QUT1

Completing the project -documentation

Razif Abdul Rahim — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:16:58 +0000

The final bulldozer

The controller

The complete set

This is our demonstration video for the project:

This is our documentation for our project:

Documentation

1. Introduction

LEGO MINDSTORMS Education (LME) is designed specifically for teachers and other adults working with groups of children aged 8 and up, combining a LEGO building set, user-friendly software and progressive educational activities. LME provides a cost effective, motivating and highly enjoyable solution to cover local curriculum areas in science, engineering, control, design and technology. The LEGO building is a line of Lego sets combining programmable bricks with electric motors, sensors, Lego bricks, and Lego Technique pieces (such as gears, axles, and beams). The current version programmable robotics kit was released in 2006 as Lego Mind storms NXT. It replaces the first generation Lego Mind storms kit, which was called the Robotics Invention System. The robotic kit has been introduced to the school children since 2006.

2. Theme

We decided to choose the industrial transport as our group theme regarding the task that required us to build an example student project with the necessary robotic equipment and programming. Because the students love toys, we decide to build the industrial transportation vehicle based on the remote control car. It is reasonable because with this project, the student will be able to control the vehicle at their own will of imagination like playing with the remote control car. In this project, we introduced to the students the used of remote control using Bluetooth in controlling the vehicle. Based on the real bulldozer design which using the tread as the wheel, we also try to accomplish our model by using the rubber tread as the wheels.

3. Robots’ Name

Our robot’s name is Remote Bulldozer because our bulldozer will be control using remote joystick.

4. Objective

The objective of the project is to show the students the project that can operate any works that overwhelm human limits. With this, it will attract students to learn about the industrial transport and enhancing students’ creativity by developing their creative and critical thinking while building the project.

5. Problem Statement

First problem that face by the major student is not able to set the programming of the project to move with their own desire. The project also cannot move freely across the environments like the real bulldozer usually does. The students also face the problem to move the front blade up and down. To overcome the problem, we decide to make a joystick with buttons to control the project vehicle. With the joystick, the student can control the vehicle forward, backward, steer left and right, and move the blade up and down. Thus, it will attract students’ interest in learning robotic and also adapt the game since children always love to play in their daily life.

The documentation for number six to eight can be viewed by downloading the document file

9. Conclusion

9.1 Reflection

For the second assignment for this unit, we were required to build an example student project with the robotics equipment including all necessary programming. Regarding the task, we have decided to choose Industrial transport as our theme and we have came out with the idea creating “Bulldozer”. After a lot of discussion, we finally decide to make the “Remote Bulldozer” as our project. This robot is quite complex. Even it is complex; it still can be build and handle by primary school children not only the building instruction but also the programming. Students not only will having fun with the “Remote Bulldozer” who hop around, but they also will learn and explore how to manipulate gears and motors to move the robot. In addition, students also can figure out how to use Bluetooth device in NXT.

While construct the bulldozer, we face some difficulties to make the programming. Before we use Bluetooth, we use sensor as our main item to move the bulldozer but face difficulties to do it because the bulldozer not follow the instruction that we program on it. We spent days to figure out how to make it working accurately and precisely. Then, we come out with the idea to use the Bluetooth in order to replace sensor. So, we must have a joystick as our remote controller. Because of that, our group needs two NXT for our project; one for the remote and one for the bulldozer. After a few adjustments with the program, we manage to move the bulldozer rightly and perfect. Even it perfect in program, there is also disadvantage. The toggle of joystick must be in the center before it started. Other than that, our bulldozer is unbeatable because it will move as we instruct it so our bulldozer can move freely across the environment without having difficulties of having tracks or lines.

The process to do the project taught us to be patient in searching the ideas for our project. The construction of the robot also had enhanced our creativity to ensure that the bulldozer that we construct is sturdy. We have applied our knowledge in sciences and technology to ensure the wheel and axles works quickly. The combining gears can make the moving of the blade can lift up and lift down things according to the instruction that given by remote joystick.

By making this robot, they are not only will learn about robot itself but also how gears are working. Besides that, we also have modified the programming to make the bulldozer can move based on the function that we have program. Although we have finished this project, but we are thinking that this bulldozer still can be modify especially the building structure.

During build the bulldozer, each of us shows our cooperation to finish the project with satisfaction. Now, we realize that the subject of robotic education is suitable for the primary student to explore and to learn. The important of the subject is able to born the students who’s creative and skillful. The student will develop their thinking skill as well as improve other subject achievement. Finally, we hope that this project will be able to help primary school children in learning robotic and teacher also will be able to attract students’ interest and attention through this project.

9.2 Future Enhancement

9.2.1 Project Enhancement

As our future project enhancement, we figure that our bulldozer can be upgrade by attaching it with backhoe on it back as new mechanism. By adding the backhoe, we can enhance our bulldozer function to dig hole. As proposal, our group decides to add 1xNXT, 3xmotor and some other accessories to the bulldozer in order to build the backhoe at the back of bulldozer. Other than that, we also must reconstruct our joystick in order to make it able to control the backhoe.

9.2.2 Personal Enhancement

From what we have learn and done, we realize that as a future teacher, we need to gain more knowledge about robotic education to ensure that the student able to get what they deserved to get. We also need to improve our skill in programming the robot to avoid the problem and to ensure that the robot that we or our student have construct function nicely. In other word, we need to become familiar with the Lego Mindstorm software.

Discussion- final assumption

Razif Abdul Rahim — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:30:47 +0000

The bulldozer

The front side

Our final draft with claw

After several weeks we had been discussed, we finally design our final draft to show to our lecturer. Hopefully it can be accepted and approved. We had faced the problem about programming the NXT but we keep try to change here and there to find the nice movement for the NXT that suit with the design.

Update:

The lecturer had approved our concept and draft, but he wants us to enhance the design that looks like a ‘real’ bulldozer. The lecturer also help us guiding on how to make the robot better than before. So then, we decided to change a little bit more on our design and programming.

Discussion- draft

Razif Abdul Rahim — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:15:44 +0000

Our first draft

On this week, we do discuss about the look of our bulldozer. So we search the information and design of bulldozer on the internet. We also try to make the design by ourselves.

Attaching the components

Continue attaching...

This is a sample video that we find for our design.

Class activity

Razif Abdul Rahim — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:35:06 +0000

We were discussing about the theme

This week, we continue our discussion about the transport. We found much more interesting design of transport. Before we continue assembling the project, the lecturer remind us to put the sensors as many as we can. At least, 2 sensors should be on our robot. The lecturer then gave us a chance to make a competition, name “tug of war” which is, build a robot that can pull ‘enemy’ to our side and win the competition just like the tug of war by humans.

All groups' "Tug of war" robotics

We struggle ourselves to build the tug of war robot. At the beginning, our robot can be defeated. At this moment we felt that we want to give up but with our spirit to success, we continue fixing the robot. At last,we gain the champion title. We found that our robot can not pull so much. So we change the body to make it light and then we change the front and back tires to make it balance. Fortunately, it works! In addition, we change the program that controls both of the tires. The front tire is to be function as stopper and the back tire is to pull the robot so we can defeat our opponent.

The champion of "Tug of War" competition

Overall,we satisfied with our success to defeat other group’s robot. Even we want to give up but quickly we team up together to make sure our project gain success. After class, we continue completing our draft on our group’s project.

Discussion- Concept

Razif Abdul Rahim — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:30:44 +0000

: Students discussing about their project

This week, our group sit together and begin a discussion about out concept. First on mind, we decided to build a transport. The transport is some thing look like a car. So then we build the basic first.

: Our ‘test’ project

After that we key in the program to our NXT. It seems look good but we need to change the program to make it smooth. We find that we need to change a lot because the program must be properly draw so the NXT don’t have the conflict.

: Our group try to make a sample programming

We did show the first concept to our lecturer. The lecturer satisfied with our concept. Later discussion, the lecturer guided us to think more creatively and innovate the concept. We make decision to improve our transport. We try to find out much more about the transport on the internet and many books to look on many designs regarding to transport.

Interview

Razif Abdul Rahim — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:35:54 +0000

On 21st January 2009, our group agreed to go to interview a teacher from a primary school near Kuala Lumpur. The interview is a part of our individual assignment but we decided to go with our group.

School Name: Sekolah Kebangsaan Saujana Impian (1), Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.

Teacher: Mr. Hafizi bin Kamarudin

We found that robotics did not been taught neither as a part of a subject nor the syllabus. According to the teacher, robotics had a team to enter a competition but it is just as a team, and they need to set up a robotic club. The club can have privilege from the supplier, a company named Sasbadi, the only supplier for LEGO Mindstroms NXT in Malaysia. The club can have a trainer and maintenance support from the company.

We hope that with this interview, we could understand much better in robotics in school. The information given is very good and we thank the teacher for the useful information that he gave to us.

Our group, with the teacher and his students

Report: 17th January 2009

Razif Abdul Rahim — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 15:10:27 +0000

Hello readers!

Since this is our first report, I would like to say, “Welcome to our group’s blog!”. If you want to know more about us, have a nice surfing our biodata’s page next of the list.

Saturday, 17th January 2009 is our institute’s relief’s day for Chinese New Year holiday celebration. Today, Puan Rashidah, our lecturer, continued our class on assembling the LEGO Mindstorms NXT. Here, I put some picture to let you see our activities during the class.

Narul and Mustaqim discuss about the matter

The 'robot'

Using the software