Robotics Curriculum

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1. Introduction to Robotics

• Objective:
  •  Introduce students to the basics of robotics and what robots are.
• Topics Covered:
  • What is a robot? Definitions and examples of robots in everyday life.
  • Parts of a robot: Sensors, actuators, controllers, and power sources.
  • Types of robots: Autonomous robots, drones, humanoid robots, and industrial robots.
• Hands-On Activity: Robot Design Sketch
  • Students will design their own robot on paper, thinking about what it would be used for, how it would move, and what sensors it would need.
  • Share and discuss the different types of robots designed.

2. LEGO Mindstorms Introduction

• Objective: 
  • Learn about the LEGO Mindstorms system and how to build basic robots.
• Topics Covered:
  • Introduction to LEGO Mindstorms: Components, sensors, and motors.
  • Understanding how to use the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 or Spike Prime kits.
  • Basics of building a simple robot using LEGO blocks.
• Hands-On Project: Build a Basic Robot
  • Students will follow instructions to build a basic robot using LEGO Mindstorms kits.
  • Explore different types of robots they can build with the kits.

3. Block Coding Basics

• Objective: 
  • Learn block coding and program simple tasks for robots.
• Topics Covered:
  • Introduction to block coding platforms (e.g., LEGO Mindstorms EV3 software or Scratch-like environments).
  • Key concepts: Sequences, loops, and conditionals.
  • How to control motors and sensors with block coding.
• Hands-On Project: Program a Robot to Move
  • Students will write a block-based code to make their LEGO robot move forward, turn, and stop.
  • Experiment with changing variables to adjust the robot’s speed and movement.

4. Sensors and Interaction

• Objective: 
  • Understand how sensors help robots interact with their environment.
• Topics Covered:
  • Types of sensors: Touch sensors, color sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and gyro sensors.
  • How sensors provide information to robots and allow them to respond to their environment.
  • Basic programming to use sensors in robot behavior.
• Hands-On Project: Obstacle-Avoiding Robot
  • Students will program their LEGO robot to detect and avoid obstacles using an ultrasonic sensor.
  • Test the robot’s ability to move around a simple obstacle course.

5. Advanced Robot Programming – Loops and Conditionals

• Objective: 
  • Learn to write more complex programs using loops and conditionals.
• Topics Covered:
  • How loops allow robots to repeat actions.
  • Conditional statements (if-then) to make robots respond differently based on sensor input.
  • Combining loops and conditionals to create more intelligent robot behavior.
• Hands-On Project: Line-Following Robot
  • Students will program a robot to follow a black line on the ground using a color sensor.
  • Use loops and conditionals to make the robot stay on track.

6. Robotics Challenges and Applications

• Objective: 
  • Apply what students have learned to solve real-world challenges with robots.
• Topics Covered:
  • Real-world applications of robotics in healthcare, industry, and space exploration.
  • Introduction to robotics competitions (e.g., FIRST LEGO League) and how to tackle robotics challenges.
  • How to think creatively when solving robotics problems.
• Hands-On Project: Complete a Robotics Challenge
  • Students will work in teams to solve a challenge, such as creating a robot that can transport an object from one location to another.
  • Each team will present their robot’s design and explain the code they used.

7. Introduction to Robotics Programming with Text-Based Coding

• Objective: 
  • Introduce students to text-based programming for robotics.
• Topics Covered:
  • Transitioning from block coding to text-based programming (e.g., Python or JavaScript).
  • Basic syntax of Python for controlling robots.
  • Writing simple programs to move robots and read sensor data using Python.
• Hands-On Project: Program a Robot with Python
  • Students will write a basic Python program to make their robot move in a square.
  • Explore how to control sensors and actuators with Python commands.

Assessment and Reflection:

• Students will complete a reflection on what they learned in each session, how their projects worked, and what challenges they faced.
• At the end of the curriculum, students will participate in a team-based robotics competition, where they will solve a complex problem (e.g., navigate a maze, pick up objects) using the skills they’ve learned.