THE ROBOT CHALLENGE

Teachers’ Workshop

New Jersey Coast

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Agenda INTRODUCTION

THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION EDUCATION ASPECTS

KEY ELEMENTS OF CHALLENGE WHAT’S REQUIRED TEACHER WORKSHOP EXPECTATIONS AND GOALS STUDENT TEAMS

BUILDING THE ROBOT ROBOT KIT TOOLS AND SAFETY RULES PLANNING AND BUILDING THE ROBOT AND BODY SUGGESTIONS WALKING AND TROUBLESHOOTING ROBOT STORAGE AND TRAVEL CONTAINER, FLAG AND TEAM NAME

SCORING THE ROBOT CHALLENGE WRITTEN REPORT ORAL PRESENTATION REVUE OF FABRICATION TRACK EVENT

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE CHALLENGE LOCATION AND TIME EVENTS REPAIR PIT WINNER NOTIFICATION WRAP UP

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The Engineering Profession

There are many ENGINEERING disciplines: aerospace, agricultural, biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical, environmental, industrial, manufacturing, mechanical, mining, nuclear, software, system, structural and many more!

Starting salaries are among the highest for college graduates

Employers are large and small companies throughout the globe

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THIS ROBOT CHALLENGE IS YOUR TOOL to demonstrate engineering principles.

The Engineering Profession

Education Aspects

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Key Elements of the Challenge

What’s Required – Student’s must : Maintain a log of activity Prepare project documentation Build the robot prototype Design and implement a body covering,

traveling container and team identification Demonstrate the robot operability Orally present the project results

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Students learn how to: Work on a large project Develop new skills Complete projects with goals and

objectives Work as a team

Key Elements of the Challenge

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Teacher’s Workshop Each participant in the teachers’ workshop will

have a robot kit, a ruler, and a manual at his/her place, and will take parts out of the kit as directed during the workshop.

All parts should be placed back in the box after the session is over.

Key Elements of the Challenge

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Key Elements of the Challenge

Create the Following Products: Robot Body covering Storage and travel container Team name, team flag Project log Written report Oral presentation

EXPECTATIONS AND GOALS

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Key Elements of the Challenge

The Manual – requires close reading and problem-solving skills!

Goal – finished robot walks in a timed “Heat” !

EXPECTATIONS AND GOALS

Key Elements of the Challenge

THE HEAT - Two robots walk in a Heat on table 8’ long

x 30” wide The course is 6’ long with ½” obstacles at

1’ and 5’ from start Heat duration is 10 – 20 minutes

(maximum of 20 minutes if robot is making progress)

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Student Teams

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Student Teams

Each Team is 3-4 students Each leg of the robot is operated by

one student Planning, organization,

documentation and cooperation required!

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Student Teams

SETTING UP TEAMS

A questionnaire is useful to determine students’ background (electrical, mechanical, written and oral communication skills, creativity, wood working, etc)

Assign specialties to each team. Switch students with specialty if necessary

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Student Teams

STUDENTS WILL EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS: They are DESIGNED in! TEACHERS’ APPROACH

Know all about the project, but don’t solve problems!

Decide how much to share with students and what they should discover for themselves.

Automation Kits – Please return automation boards and interconnection cables.

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Student Teams Have students log everything:

For things that go wrong, include the problem and a description of attempts to solve the problem, including failures.

Present regular status of progress to class as part of semester grade.

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Building the Robot

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Your Robot Kit Kits are to be built with TWO LEGS Robot is designed and built and then

electrically wired Assembly time is approximately

two-three months based on 3 hours per week. Average of total time is 25 hours.

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Required - not provided wood saw jig saw electric drill needle-nose pliers screw drivers sharp knife batteries tools and materials to

create a robot body covering that does not interfere with mechanical operation

sand paper (wood & metal) 25 watt soldering iron safety goggles extra blocks of wood small vise with rubber jaws

(for threaded rods) wire cutter and stripper

Building the Robot - Tools

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Dremel tool (rotary cutting tool) for cutting the threaded rods (cutting rods at 40K RPMs)

Bench drill press is helpful for aligning holes Miter box Multimeter (multitester, VOM) to check

electrical circuits

Building the Robot - Tools

Optional - Not Provided

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Building the Robot - Safety

Use safety glasses at all times when drilling and/or cutting

Protect desk or work surface If using lead-based solder, work in

a well-ventilated area (science lab) and students must wash hands after use. References for additional safety measures are on next slide.

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Building the Robot – Parts and Instructions

Verify the parts from the materials list in the Manual

Limited spare parts can be obtained through your WIE representative

READ THE ENTIRE MANUAL BEFORE BEGINNING TO BE CLEAR ON WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE!

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Building the Robot - Rules

The robot must be fabricated using parts provided in the kit

To ensure a level playing field, NO deviations from the design of the Power Unit and Control Unit are permitted

Substitutions are not allowed but additions are permitted. Gadgets to add personality are ok, but the basic mechanism of the robot cannot be changed

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If wheels or gears are used, they may NOT touch the table or be externally visible

The robot body must be designed such that the team can fully expose all mechanism for inspection by the judges

Building the Robot - Rules

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Building the Robot – Planning and Building the Body

Have a theme for robot, robot covering and storage/travel container and team with team flag

Be aware that the covering may affect the robot’s center of gravity

Body covering must be removable! Beware of fabrics with fibers (for example, felt

or fur) that can affect mechanism

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Building the Robot - Suggestions

HINTS and RECOMMENDATIONSProtect metal rods from bending or

breaking; tape to side of box for protection

Use wooden match to mix epoxy – don’t get it on work surface

Use caution when drillingWooden rulers are easiest to use

Measure twice, cut once!

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Building the Robot - Wood Block

Suggestions for wood block and challenges of 3/32 hole and 3/16 angled hole for wiring: Use team of 2: driller and spotter Do short channels first Take all measurements from one side Read instructions, mark holes Use extruding drill bit and ruler to line up holes Sand tip of metal rod to get thru connecting holes

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Building the Robot - Wood Block

Insert rod in vise. Push wood down onto it

If too loose, epoxy the inside; clean off outside as it needs to be rigid

Angled holes: angle block in vise and drill straight

Use coat hanger to push thru hole

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Building the Robot – Mounting Motors

To increase contact surface, make shallow channel for motor

On 001 drawing, section marked

“ up to 2” “ is not necessary for the robot body and can be removed

Insert screws by hand

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Building the Robot - Use of Epoxy

Mix on disposable surface After epoxy is applied, use clamps or

rubber bands to hold parts in place until dry

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Building the Robot - Threaded Rods

Use Dremel tool or metal saw to cut threaded rod, then file smooth

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Building the Robot –

Jammed Mechanism If leg action jams:

Make sure the rods are straight Top rod – shorten back stop or use controller

to take smaller/shorter steps If end stops moving, use one drop of

superglue (liquid, not viscous) on threaded rod, then clean and reassemble. (Imperfections are uncorrectable!)

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Building the Robot - Control Units

Use nail to indent holes on platform Adhere to hole sizes; hangs too loose if

holes are too large

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Building the Robot - Painting and Assembling Parts

Decoration of robot is expected, continue use of theme

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Building the Robot -Forming Bridge w/ Brass Fasteners

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Building the Robot - Common Bus

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Building the Robot - The Wiring

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Building the Robot - Soldering

Do and Don’ts - see soldering safety Some solder contains lead – wash hands after handling! Use lowest temperature on 25 watt iron Clean and heat larger elements first Solder onto element without blobs!

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Building the Robot – Walking and Troubleshooting

Rotational Movement of Leg is:UP -> FORWARD -> DOWN -> BACK

Hip is flexible, leg foot is not flexible Center of gravity shifts with movement Center of gravity is affected by cover Use tape, hairspray or rubber cement on

skids for traction

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Building the Body – Walking and Troubleshooting

Plan time to PRACTICE MOVING THE ROBOT!

It is harder than it looks!

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Building the Robot – Storage/Travel Container

Consider strong possibility of damage to the robot on the way to the Challenge!

Storage/travel container is judged at oral presentation

Continue theme for robot and team Container suggestion: wine box

w/partitions

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Scoring the Robot Challenge

Written Report

Oral Presentation

Track Event

Review of Fabrication

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Scoring the Challenge

Written Report 25% Oral Presentation 15% Review of Fabrication 20% Track Event 40% 100%

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Must be neat and have a picture on the cover have POC and acknowledgements be well written include safety measures include minimum of 6 pages of text and 4 pages of

general description including sketches, photos, work log

include advantages and disadvantages, problems and solutions, throughout development

Written Report - 25%

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Report due to POC the week BEFORE the Challenge no later than 4/22/15 COB Points awarded for creativity, originality, and

sketches Report will be judged during the week before

the Challenge by the judges

Written Report - 25%

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The Oral Presentation – 15%

All team members attend and participate ONLY students and judges are present 20-minute limit, including 3 minutes for

video if presented Judges may ask questions Discuss problems and solutions

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Revue of Fabrication - 20%

Discuss quality and workmanship of the solder, nuts, bolts, and body

Solutions to workmanship issues

Points awarded for creativity, originality, and neat housing of power unit

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Track Event – 40%

The robot must walk!

Each leg of the robot is operated by one student

Robot body must be covered

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Track Event – 40%

Lose Points for:Touching the robot during heat (1-5 points)Robot crossing tape boundaries on table Team late or not ready when called for heat or oral presentationNon-competing teams must not disrupt the runs – lose points for interruptions

Track Event – 40%

Points will be awarded for smoothness of the robot’s movements coordination of the operating team amount of time taken

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The Robot Challenge

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Location and Time

Site of the Challenge is at the

Brookdale Community College

Collins Arena/Brookdale Recreation & Events Center

765 Newman Springs Rd,

Lincroft, NJ 07738

www.robotchallengenj.com

9:00 AM May 2, 2015

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Location and Time - Logistics

A POC for each team with a contact number for the day must be provided in advance to your WIE contact

Snacks will be available on site

Upon arrival, Register Robot and Team Photo of Robot is taken

Team will be called to track and rules explained Team gives oral presentation and review of

fabrication All team members must be ready and available

when called for a heat and for the oral presentation with review of fabrication

Location and Time - Events

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The Repair Pit

There will be a repair pit for emergency repairs and/or assistance

Experienced robot builders will be on hand to provide expertise

Time-out may be given for sudden component failure after start of heat when robot cannot continue. A penalty is incurred for a visit to the pit.

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Winners - Notification of Results Certificates will be issued to all participants 1st and 2nd trophies will be awarded

Formal results, pictures and article will be posted on the WIE website: www.robotchallengenj.com

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Wrap Up

Discussion of experiences Questions