The Robotics Workshop: Introduction to Programming Robots

Summer Day Program for Rising 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Grade Students

Workshop Dates: August 5 - 9, 2013

The five-day Robotics Workshop offers students an opportunity to explore and program the REMBot educational robot. The REMBot is controlled by an NXT microprocessor module and is programmed with the ROBOTC programming language. ROBOTC incorporates robot-specific extensions to the C++ programming language. Each student uses a dedicated PC or Mac laptop for program development in ROBOTC and then transfers the completed programs to their own REMBot.

Students will learn a number of fundamental C++ programming concepts like tasks, functions, variables, constants, loops, and decision structures through group, one-on-one, and experiential learning. In addition, students will complete a series of projects and explorations designed to reinforce collaborative learning as they prepare their REMBot for major Robot Challenges against the other students' robots.

During the workshop, a number of programming projects will be completed to help acquire and reinforce new skills using a variety of robot sensors, motors, and encoders. The focus will be on algorithms and programs that allow the robot to perform various navigational tasks. Principles from the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics will be synthesized and applied to robot development.

The REMBot robots will be completely assembled, so no electronics background is necessary. Students needn’t have any prior programming experience. However, familiarity with a Windows-based or Mac-based computer operating environment is very strongly recommended.

Topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Review of the ROBOTC (C++) software development environment
  • Computer program compiling and transfer to the NXT microprocessor
  • Use of sensors: touch sensor, light sensor, ultrasonic distance sensor, motor encoders
  • Discussion of algorithms for robot navigation, motor encoding, PID algorithms, and dead reckoning
  • Programming the REMBot to travel exact distances
  • Programming the REMBot make accurate degree turns
  • Programming the REMBot to avoid obstacles
  • Programming the REMBot to follow a line
  • Program debugging and testing techniques

 

 

REGISTRATION
View, print, and submit the registration documents:

Workshop Information and Quick Registration Form (due July 8, 2013)
Enrollment and Waiver Form for accepted students (due July 29, 2013)