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How to Train a Robot

Section Three: C2 Robots in a Maze

Explain to your students the process by which they will create mazes for each other. You may wish to write the rules for maze construction on the chalkboard or overhead, so students may refer to the rules during the construction process. Distribute the materials and establish the amount of time the students have to create the mazes (10 to 15 minutes should be sufficient.)

Suggested rules for maze construction: (These may be modified depending upon student needs and the time available.)

  1. Total distance to travel: 1.5 meters
  2. Total number of turns allowed: six
  3. Each maze must begin and end with a T intersection marked "start" and "stop."
  4. Straight line lengths must be at least 10 cm.
  5. Angles must be between zero and 135. Angles between 136° and 180° are very difficult to manage with these robots without a wheel crossing a line.
  6. The line may not cross itself.

While students are creating their mazes, circulate among the groups and review with them their data and graphs for the "Forward" and "Turn" C2 Robot performance. Discuss the data with the students to evaluate the depth and accuracy of their interpretations.

After the time you established for maze construction has passed, ask groups to exchange mazes. Ask the students to evaluate the mazes to ensure they conform to the rules of construction. Mediate the maze analysis process. Verify any findings that the rules were violated and allow teams to correct errors. Tape the mazes to the wall so student teams may measure distances and angles. Each maze should list the name of the team that created it and the name of the team required to run it.

Ask students to write the programs to run the C2 Robots through their mazes. Students may use Graph Link software and computers to do this, or the calculators themselves. Assist groups as necessary. Students may test their programs at a testing site; tile floors are useful for this.

When the students have written their programs, hold the Maze Running Robot Finals. You may wish to allow each group to test the program one time before the finals.

Suggested Competition Rules:

  1. Robots must start on the T intersection marked Start and must end as close to the T intersection marked Stop as possible.
  2. The distance in centimeters from the Stop intersection plus any penalty points (see rule #3) will be the team's score. Low score wins.
  3. Robot wheels may not touch or cross any line. (A 5 cm penalty will be assessed for each infraction of this rule.)
  4. No team may use its challenge maze for a practice run before the competition.
  5. The time each robot requires to run the maze will be recorded; time will be used to break any tie between teams.

Invite as many judges as you have C2 Robots. The judges will determine whether the front wheels cross a line during the trial, will measure the distance from the wheels to the Stop Line at the conclusion of the trial, and will determine each team's score, including penalty points. During the trial you will be able to determine how well the students succeeded at their complex tasks.

You may wish to film the finals. At the conclusion of all trials, celebrate the teams' successes, announce the final standings, and ask students to write an evaluation of the process. Ask them to write about what they learned in general during the robotics unit and to describe specifically what they learned about geometry, programming, teamwork, and technology. Ask them to make suggestions for improvements. The initial journals will be useful here as a record of their progress and the development of their logical reasoning skills, programming skills, and problem-solving strategies.