STEM: Robotics Using Microbit - Intermediate Level Hands On!

If you already have the basic skills of robotics, this class takes your skills to the next level, in a fun and somewhat competitive sense. Each class presents a project challenge with guidance but the students are expected to write their own code from brief examples. This fosters a greater sense of accomplishment than just copying code and running it. Students then work on their project during the week with constant communication with each other and the teacher, then demonstrate their accomplishments in the next class.

The robot used in this class is the Yahboom robot with the Microbit microcontroller. This robot is the one built in the "Introduction to Robotics" class offered by me on outschool. Beginners are recommended to take that class first. More experienced students can acquire and build the robot on their own to prepare for class  links to materials are provided below.

The flow of each project will be:
  1. New project is introduced and explained
  2. Discussion about potential programming approaches, with code samples
  3. Work on the project during class and during the week
  4. Present the project to the class
  5. Review and explore the coding methods used in the project
 

Weekly Schedule:

Week 1:   The Racetrack
   Each participant will program their robot to race around the oval track, doing 10 laps in the shortest time possible without flying off the track.

Week 2: Review racetrack project, results and code used, explore suggestions for improvement

Week 3: Explain programming of the neopixel "rainbow" light

Week 4.  "Follow something" project
   Each participant will program the robot to find and follow an object at a certain distance

Week 5. Review the "follow" project, results, and code used, explore suggestions for improvement