Lecture 7

tutor: Luisa Dal Pozzo
Preparation to the challenges at Venice

1. Presentation and discussion of the challenge 1: MAZE (60 mins) [download the file with rules and organization of this challenge]
• possible strategies
• sensor to use:
  • ultrasonic and gyro for the maze crossing
  • color for identify the tiles
  • infrared and touch for the victim
• structure updating
• individual approach
2. Presentation and discussion of the challenge 2: PENALTY (60 mins) [download the file with rules and organization of this challenge]
• possible strategies
• sensor to use:
  • gyro to drive the path
  • color to follow the supporting line
  • touch to feel the ball
  • infrared to score the goal
• structure updating
• individual approach
3. Presentation and discussion of the challenge 3: SOCCER (60 mins) [download the file with rules and organization of this challenge]
• discussion of the rules
• possible strategies
• sensor to use:
  • IR beacon to send the commands
  • infrared to receive the commands
  • gyro for the maze crossing
• structure updating
• individual approach
4. Presentation and discussion of the possible structures of the robot in the different challenges [download the file]

Lecture 6

tutor: Luisa Dal Pozzo

1. Lesson 8: How to do a challenge
• Example of challenge: avoid an obstacle keeping the same direction
  • initial brainstorming:
    • presentation of the challenge
    • identification of the problems
    • evaluation of the sensors to use
• divide et impera:
  • breaking up the challenge into pieces that individually raise less difficults
• preliminary steps:
  1. run straight in your direction until 10 cm from the obstacle
  2. soft stop
  3. turn 180° around the obstacle
  4. run again in the original direction
• tasks testings
• feedback:
  1. every team presents the software solutions and the obtained results
  2. common discussion
  3. pros and cons of each strategy

Lecture 5

tutor: Luisa Dal Pozzo

1. Lesson 5: More about Sensors: ultrasonic, color and gyro
• Ultrasonic sensor, accuracy and range, distance reading
  • elements conditioning the reading
  • example of wall following
• Color sensor and line follower
  • reflecting mode or color identification mode?
  • line follower (the problems of the use of only one-sensor)
  • effect and use of the proportional approach
  • effect and use of the derivative approach
  • effect and use of the integral approach
• challenge on PID line follower

Extra lecture (in preparation of the Lithuanian meeting

tutor: Alessandro Memo

1. Lesson 5: Sensors (2): ultrasonic, infrared and gyro
• Ultrasonic sensor, technology, range, experimental evaluation, sensor's mode
• example 25: run against a wall until, and discussion of the suggested code
• example 26: run away from a wall (5 min)
• discussion of the proposed possible solution
• example 27: soft approach to a wall (15 min)
• example 28: hand controlled robot
• comment of the proposed possible solution
• Challenge: arounf the tower 2, modify the robot structure
• comment of the obtained results and problems, and discussion of the proposed possible solution
• Infrared sensor, technology, comparing to the ultrasonic sensor
• ir proximity mode, accuracy, reading method
• ir seeker mode, polar coordinators
• Challenge: radar emulation (30 min), introduction of images on the PC screen
• comment of the obtained results, and discussion of the proposed possible solution
• ir remote control mode
• Challenge: R/C robot (15 min)
• comment of the obtained results, and discussion of the proposed possible solution
• Challenge: mixed maze (25 min)
• comment of the obtained results, and discussion of the proposed possible solution
• Gyro sensor, precautions, the reset action
• gyro angle mode, how to reads, test program
• Challenge: around the tower 3 (20 min)
• comment of the obtained results, and discussion of the proposed possible solution
• example 36: go straight with gyro, and discussion of the proposed solution
• Challenge: maze solving (40 min)
• comment of the obtained results, and discussion of the proposed possible solution

Lecture 4

date: 18 February 2016 tutor: Alessandro Memo

1. Lesson 4: Sensors (1): touch & color
• 3-levels Line follower
• comment of the proposed solution, the difficulties to adjust the parameters
• 3-levels Line follower, another solution introducing a soft/sharp control
• comment of the proposed solution, a smoother movement
• the proportional approach to the line follower, more the error stronger the correction
• example 16 (v2): test of this method, and comment of the obtained results
• PID: Proportional, Integrative Derivative approach
• example 16 (v3): PID line follower
• challenge: follow a curved line in the faster way(20 min)
• comment on the previous challenge
• challenge: sequential movements(10 min)
• comment on the previous challenge and discussion of a possible solution
• color sensor in ambient mode, simple examples
• example 18: flash controlled robot (10 min)
• color sensor in color recognition mode
• example 19: color identification, presentation of a possible solution and introduction to the array initialization
• challenge: slalom (30 min)
• comment of the results obtained in the previous challenge
• challenge: around the tower (30 min)
• comment of the results obtained in the previous challenge and discussion on the proposed solution
• short hits on the RGB mode of the color sensor
• challenge: color components (10 min)
• comment of the results obtained in the previous challenge and discussion on the proposed solution
• challenge: garbage cleaner (30 min)
• comment of the results obtained in the previous challenge and discussion on the proposed solution
• challenge: object recognition (30 min)
• only proposed
• challenge: rescue mission (40 min)
• comment of the results obtained in the previous challenge

Comments:Good partecipation and interest, expecially for the students directly involved in the incoming meeting.

Lecture 3

date: 4 February 2016 tutor: Alessandro Memo

1. Lesson 3: Motors
• previously on motors
2. Lesson 4: Sensors (1): touch & color
• Sensor methods, generalised approach, raw and percentage readings, operational modes
• Touch sensor
• Robot assembly to use the touch sensor to detect an obstacle
• example: four walls (30 mins)
• comment of a proposed solution of the previous example 13, the init section, variable initialization section, main section
• Color sensor, operational modes, technology, LEDs, RGB.
• Color sensor: reflected mode, different colored surfaces,
• 2-levels Line follower, the threshold value
• file management on PC and on brick, CSV file, example of subroutine, differences between function and subroutine, comment of the example 14, introduction of the flow-chart rappresentation
• hints on 3-levels Line follower

Comments:Some students do very quickly the submitted examples and challenges. Time schedule respected.

Lecture 2

date: 28 January 2016 tutor: Alessandro Memo

1. Lesson 2: Brick I/O (completion)
• the LED under the bottons, the command (summary)
• the speaker, commands to generate tone, notes and sound files (summary)
• how to use EV3Explorer to upload the programs on the brick
2. Lesson 3: Motors (presentation ppt, see materials)
• parameters: speed vs power, how the motor controller keeps constant speed or power
• parameters: blocking vs returning, wait for the end of the command or return the control immediately to the next instruction
• parameters: control of the different speeds of two motors
• parameters: acceleration, running, deceleration
• example: up and down arm (5 mins)
• example: move straight 50 cm (10 mins)
• comment of a proposed solution of the previous example 7, the geometry of the robot, angular speed (degree) approach vs time approach; the sections of a good program, initial commenting section, variable initialization section, main section
• challenge: take an object at 40 cm (15 mins)
• example: sequence; comment of a proposed solution introducing the subroutines, global variables, particular functionality of the subroutines in EV3Basic
• turning movement using only one motor
• turning movement on the place using two motors
• turning movement of different angles using two motors
• example: turn right 90 degrees, on the place (5 mins)
• comment of a proposed solution of the previous example 10, self evaluation of the parameters
• challenge: squared path (15 mins)

Comments: Good interaction and partecipation, good results. Most of the students have send their photo (as requested) while all the students have proposed their blog. To evaluate. Time schedule respected.