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.
