Sunday, March 26, 2017

Roby the Robot


Introduction
I am a 5th grader and won a grant from Disney (www.ysa.org/grants/youth-grants/disney/) to do a service project about robotics. My project is about encouraging young kids in the 4th grade to get excited about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) by building a robot. I am planning to teach a class of kids about basic computer programing and how to construct a small robot. This is a free experience and we will provide all the materials, instructions, and volunteers to help everyone.

Project Background
I’m doing this project to help kids understand the importance of robotics. This project is needed so all kids can have a better understanding of how robotics work. My project is also needed, because when kids start to get to my age they tend to drift away from S.T.E.M (science, technology, engineering, and math). However, once you dive in and start learning about robotics and how to do them you find it might be one of your most favorite things in the world.

This is special to me because I love robotics and I want other people to see how much fun robotics is. I think that even a kid who has never tried robotics will instantly fall in love with robotics.

What You Will Learn
Participants will learn how to build, wire, and program a small line follower robot. Roby is constructed of a small chassis with 2 motors controlling the main wheels and a swivel caster. Roby is controlled by a computer board running a program participants will write. The program uses 2 infrared sensors to detect the line on the ground. When one of the sensors detects the line the robot turns in that direction so the line stays under the center of the robot. The robot will keep following the line unless both sensors touch the black.