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3.2

by Tech Camp

Introduction

You are the chief programmer for a mission to Mars that has crash landed, and one of your crew is stranded on the other side of the planet! Let's learn how to make our robot move so we can save them.

  1. Let's assemble our robot so we can save the stranded astronaut!
    • Let's assemble our robot so we can save the stranded astronaut!

    • Carefully put together your robot exactly like the picture.

    • Make sure you plug the left motor into the left socket (M1) and the right motor into M2!

  2. Every program must know where to start!
    • Every program must know where to start!

    • Drag a Program Start block into the white area.

  3. To make the motors move, we need to use a Motor block.
    • To make the motors move, we need to use a Motor block.

    • We have two motors, so drag two motor blocks into your program from the menu.

    • Make sure they snap in underneath your Program Start!

  4. You can make changes to most blocks to change what they do!
    • You can make changes to most blocks to change what they do!

    • We need to change the motor blocks to make both motor 1 and motor 2 move forwards

    • Click on the grey areas inside the motor blocks to change them - change the blocks so that both motor 1 and motor 2 are moving forwards.

    • To make motors reverse, just click until it says reverse!

  5. Let's test our program so far to make sure everything is connected properly. First, plug in your USB cable to the main board!
    • Let's test our program so far to make sure everything is connected properly.

    • First, plug in your USB cable to the main board!

    • Then click the green play button in the top left - it should say "Programming Successful!"

    • After you unplug the USB cable and turn your robot on, it should drive forward forever - make sure it doesn't fall off the table!

  6. Hopefully your robot now drives forwards forever - great work!
    • Hopefully your robot now drives forwards forever - great work!

    • However, to rescue the stranded astronaut we need to know how to make the robot stop.

    • First, drag in a Wait block to make your robot wait for 1 second after it starts driving forwards.

  7. Now let's make a sequence to get the robot to stop after driving forwards for 1 second.
    • Now let's make a sequence to get the robot to stop after driving forwards for 1 second.

    • Drag in two more motor blocks and change them so that both motors stop.

    • Click the green play button again to upload your code - your robot should drive forwards and then stop! If it doesn't, look at your code and try to fix it if you can.

  8. It's easy to change your program by dragging the blocks around! Click and drag the first motor block to move everything underneath it away from the program start.
    • It's easy to change your program by dragging the blocks around!

    • Click and drag the first motor block to move everything underneath it away from the program start.

    • You can also delete things you don't want anymore! Try dragging some blocks back into the menu area on the left to delete them.

  9. Now you have mastered all of the things you need to save the stranded astronaut! On the front of your robot there are two magnets - if they get close enough to the astronaut, they will pick them up.
    • Now you have mastered all of the things you need to save the stranded astronaut!

    • On the front of your robot there are two magnets - if they get close enough to the astronaut, they will pick them up.

    • Write a program to make your robot drive forwards across the planet and pick up the astronaut. You will need to change the wait time so it drives forwards the right amount!

    • Don't forget to get your challenge checked off when you've completed the mission.

  10. After each challenge, make sure to save your work - you might need it later!
    • After each challenge, make sure to save your work - you might need it later!

  11. For this extension challenge, add some blocks so your sequence makes the robot: Drive forward
    • For this extension challenge, add some blocks so your sequence makes the robot:

    • Drive forward

    • Stop and pickup the astronaut

    • Reverse back to the other side of the planet.

    • Don't forget to save your work!

Finish Line

2 other people completed this guide.

Tech Camp

Member since: 10/03/2012

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Tech Camp Staff Member of Tech Camp Staff

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