STEM: Robotics - Using Compass for Robot Direction Control

Completed by 3 learners

Ages 10-15

Live Group Class

Let's teach our robot to use the built in micro-bit compass to find definite directions!

David Salch

Average rating:

4.9

Number of reviews:

(3,367 reviews)

Popular

Live video meetings

1x per week, 5 weeks

3-18 learners per class

55 min

About Learning Overview Teacher Reviews

What's included

5 live meetings

4 hrs 35 mins in-class hours

Homework

1-2 hours per week. Each week there will projects to complete and expand upon, and the results brought back the subsequent week.

Class Experience

NOTE: This is a continuing education class utilizing the robot kit built in my Beginner Robotics Class. The students are required to have completed the beginner class and have a working robot to use in this class. 
Here is the link:
https://outschool.com/classes/robotics-using-microbit-beginner-class-hands-on-build-a-real-robot-sUNQmOFw#us5w5buIzr

In this class we will make our yahboom robot able to use the built-in MicroBit Compass to give it a real sense for direction! There are several ways to utilize the compass. There will be fun projects each week demonstrating these abilities.  Each student is expected to  work on the projects in their own time between classes, and demonstrate success in the next class. 

In this class, the students will not only learn about how a piece of hardware works (the compass / magnetometer) but also important principles of coding and project design as we walk through the various uses of this sensor. Through the projects and discussion, we will expand our robotic and coding skills. 

Week 1: Introduction to the compass and coding the compass
              (This requires my secret rewrite of the microbit compass code to work with the robot)

Week 2: While roaming go around objects with square corners

Week 3: Run straight and true at various speeds

Week 4: Program compass directions to follow a treasure map

Week 5: Review and future ideas

This is a participation class! Each student is free to be creative and expand the weekly projects with "personality" for their robot. Engineering is more than just accomplishing a task, it means accomplishing it with STYLE!

Other Details

Supply List

It is a requirement to have completed the beginner robotics class, and come to this class with a working yahboom smartcar robot built in that class.

External Resources

Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.

Meet the teacher

David Salch

Joined December, 2016

4.9

3367reviews

Popular

Profile

Teacher expertise and credentials

I have been involved in computer science and robotics for 5 decades, having hand built my first robot as a teenager back in the day where parts had to be manually hard wired from scratch. In my career I have touched on many hardware / software disciplines and have several patents to my name in this field. This gives me a unique view on hardware and software as two parts of a whole end product. 
In addition to the technical skills I have spent decades explaining difficult computer science concepts to non-technical crowds including investors, administrators, salesmen, etc.  This provided a solid basis for teaching these skills in an age appropriate manner. 
My computer science classes bring these two (technical abilities and teaching experience) together into a fun, exciting hands on experience that is age appropriate. 
I have worked with this particular Yahboom robot for about 4 years now, and successfully taught basic robotics and some fairly advanced concepts) with this robot to hundreds of students.