Robotics and Action/Reaction Mini-Culmination

Today, I tried out the basket I had designed the day before. I tried putting different objects into the basket to see if the basket could carry the objects up the fishing line. It was harder for the basket to carry the heavier objects up the fishing line, so I had to use more balloons. The heavier the object, the more balloons I had to use. The basket I designed worked out great!
Since I was finished making the basket I helped a few of my teammates design the robotix loader. We were unable to finish it before class ended. So, I am a little concerned about getting it done.

Robotics and Action/Reaction Mini-Culmination

Today I worked on designing a basket to help carry an object up the fishing line. The picture at left is a picture of my first design. When I tried my first design out, it didn't work. I think the reason it did not work was because the design was so heavy. My second design worked much better. It was much lighter. I used plastic bags and wooden skewers. When I tried it out, it worked very well.

Robotics and Action/Reaction Mini-Culmination

Today my group and I prepared for our Mini-Culmination. Madeira and I worked on designing a Robotix Loader. The loader "should be capable of manipulating a load of various masses and sizes." The loader will be used for picking up an object and transporting it to different locations. Madeira and I tried using different pieces and connecting different pieces together. This was a fun lab and we made progress!

Robotics and Action/Reaction Mini-Culmination

Today my class and I were introduced to the Robotics and Action/Reaction Mini-Culmination. When MM and Bert first introduced the Mini-Culmination to us, i didn't understand what we were supposed to do. But now I understand with help from my classmates and from Bert.
We began our preparation for the mini-culmination by equally dividing the work. Today, I worked on geting a balloon to go up a piece of string. Eventually I will design a basket that will help carry an object up the piece of string.

Lego Robots: Linear & Conditional Programming

Today Anja, Madeira and I did the lab "Lego Robots." Our job was to program a robot using a software called Robolab and to "attempt the three core challenges." We each picked our own challenge. My challenge was to move rock samples and to move them to a specific location on the map. I found that it was hard. It took me a while to figure out how to use the software. Eventually I got the hang of things. I was unable to finish my challenge because I had to leave school early, but I know that I could have finished the challenge if I had had more time and practice.

Thrust Structures

Lilly, Rose and I did the lab Thrust Structures. Our job was "to build the lightest weight thrust structure that will withstand the force of launch to orbit at least three times." We made two thrust structures out of Popsicle sticks and glue. The first structure was shaped like a cube and the second a pyramid. By experimenting we learned that the thrust structure shaped like a pyramid worked best. I think that the pyramid shaped structure worked best because it was light and strong. I thought that this lab was fun, I had a good time.

Remote Repairs

Today Alice, Em. and I did the lab Remote Repairs. Our mission was to "reconstruct a robot." We were each given a finished component of a robot and the individual parts of another component. Using Skype we had to "successfully support one other partner to recreate the finished component our partner had in front of her and recreate the component whose parts our partner had." We were unable to complete this lab because the group before us had misplaced some of the pieces so it took my group and I a while to figure out who was supposed to help who reconstruct a robot. By the time we figured this out we only had a short time, but we were still able to take turns giving instructions to one another. When I was giving instructions I found that it was hard to accurately describe in detail the pieces and where to put them. This lab was challenging but I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed working with the people in my group.

Recovery Systems

Today my group Alice and Rose and I did the lab Recovery Systems. Our goal was to "test different parachute designs in order to maximize their drag while maintaining stability." We worked together designing a parachute using a plastic bag, string, hole punch reinforcing stickers, scissors, tape and a hair dryer. The first parachute we designed worked well. We experimented using different weights. We found that heavier weights caused the parachute to fall down faster and that lighter weights caused the parachute to fall slower. We tried placing the hairdryer in different places around the parachute. We noticed that placing the hairdryer underneath the parachute made the parachute stay up in the air longer. :)

Robotix Video

Robotix

My group Kimmy, Gabby and I did the lab "Robotix." Our goal was to "design a loader that can drive across terrrain, pick up and store two rock samples and then return to its original position." Using the Robotix kit we were given we built a robot. We experimented using different pieces and attaching different pieces together. We designed a robot and practiced controlling it. Using the controls, we practiced using it to pick up objects such as a film canister and a golf ball.

I think that this lab was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it. I liked working with my group. I think that we worked well together.

Launching from the Moon

My group Clara, Emma S. and I did the lab "Launching from the moon." Our goal was to get a balloon to go up a piece of string and to hit the wall. Our first attempt was to tape the end of a balloon to a straw. Our first attempt was a failure because the balloon didn't go anywhere. As the balloon deflated it stayed where it was at the entire time. Our second attempt was a success. Instead on taping the end of the balloon to a straw, we taped the middle of the balloon to a straw. As the balloon deflated it went up the piece of string and hit the wall.

My group and I learned that this lab was an example of Newton's 3rd Law. Newton's 3rd Law states that "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." As the air from the balloon escaped, the escaping air pushed the balloon up the string.

Our last attempts did not work successfully. Our goal was to lift objects (ping-pong balls, bateries etc.) up the string. We tried atatching multiple balloons to a straw and taping the object to the balloons. Those attempts were failures because the objects would fall off the balloons or the balloons would not go anywhere. I think that this was a fun lab. If i did it again I would like to see what my group and I could have done differently to lift the objects up the string.