NXT Basic for Jing Shan Primary School 2008

NJRC Training Lesson 15 dated 29th August 2008

2008-08-29T01:02:00.000-07:00

Lesson 15 dated 29th August 2008
Final Training for NJRC 2008

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Short Video Clip

NJRC Lesson 14 dated 26th August 2008

2008-08-26T17:16:00.000-07:00

Lesson 14 Pre Challenge week dated 26th August 2008
Challenge Week (2 September to 6 September)
The challenge comprises of two missions. Mission 1 is made known during the Challenge Announcement while Mission 2 is a surprise mission to be announced prior to the challenge. Each mission comprises a variety of tasks, which the teams need to accomplish to earn points. The top forty teams, from Primary and Secondary
Division and twenty teams from Tertiary Division, will compete during the Grand Finals in a surprise mission. The winning team of the Grand Finals wins the Best Robot Performance Award.
Mission 1 will make up 40% of the final score while Mission 2 will make up 60%.
Apart from designing their robots, teams may also decorate their booths, market themselves or their products, showcasing their entrepreneurship, and to impress a panel of judges who will assess them for a number of awards.

Challenge Preliminary (2 to 5 September)
Teams will spend a full day at the competition venue during the challenge preliminary. They will be informed of their allocated competition day prior to the challenge week. Teams should make sure their touch point contacts are registered.
Each team will be assigned a booth located within the main competition hall. The booth is the team’s “pit” where the team works on their robot. Teams may also decorate their booths and use them as bases for their marketing operations.
The following is what the teams should expect during the course of the
competition day.
The competition hall will open at 8 am. Teams are expected to
stay from 8am to 6pm. No team shall exit the hall during the
quarantine period unless the team has been disqualified, or under
certain special circumstances.
There is a quarantine period in the morning and in the afternoon.
During these periods, only participating teams (students) are
allowed in the booths area.
Teams can calibrate their sensors at their allocated playing field
during the allocated time before the start of the quarantine.
Each team needs to accomplish two missions to accomplish.
Each mission allows a total of 2 actual runs. Mission 1 is
attempted in the morning, and Mission 2 which is a surprise, is in
the afternoon. The better result of the two runs for each mission
will be considered for entry to the Grand Finals. Should there be a
tie in the number of points, the team with the fastest total time for
the missions will proceed to the finals.
No trial runs will be allowed on the competition fields. (Teams
who want to do their trials can use the trial playing fields provided
elsewhere at the competition venue.)
The top 40 teams from each of the Primary and Secondary
Divisions and the top 20 teams from the Tertiary Division will
proceed to the Grand Finals. The Grand Finals will have a total of
100 teams (40 primary, 40 secondary, 20 tertiary) to vie for the
Best Robot Performance Award, and eventually the
Championship Award. Both awards will be given per division.
Judges will be visiting the booths during the quarantine period to
assess each team for a variety of awards. Teams are advised to
have at least one member present in their booths before the
quarantine ends.

Each team will be assessed for the following awards:
a. Best Image Award
b. Entrepreneur Award
c. Best Newcomer Award
d. Best Team Spirit Award
Grand Finals (6 September)
The top 40 teams from each of the the Primary and the Secondary
Divisions and the top 20 from the Tertiary Division will pit their robots
against one another to vie for the Best Robot Performance Award.
Details of the Surprise Mission will only be made known in the
morning of the Grand Finals, after which, teams will be immediately
quarantined. They will be given approximately three hours to modify
their robots to accomplish this mission. Results from the Surprise
Mission will be used to determine the Best Robot Performance Award.

Robot Construction

Short Video Clip

NJRC Lesson 13 dated 12th August 2008

2008-08-12T17:12:00.000-07:00

Lesson 13 dated 12th August 2008
Marking and Testing of New Playfield for NJRC 2008 Primary School Mission One.
Guidelines on dimension of Layout Map for NJRC 2008 Primary School Mission One

Students helped to fill the black line on the newly constructed playfield

Short Video Clip

There is no short cut to success. Practice and more practice!!!

NJRC Training Lesson 12 dated 5th August 2008

2008-08-05T16:56:00.000-07:00

Lesson 12
dated 5th August 2008
Team constructed a four wheel drive NXT

Team at work

Video Clip

NJRC Training Lesson 11 dated 29th July 2008

2008-07-29T17:42:00.000-07:00

Lesson 11 dated 29th July 2008
NJRC 2008 Training on using Primary School Mission One map
Further testing and tuning
Pointed out the following warnings to the students
Robot Inspection
1. Before each run, a robot inspector will check the robot for any illegal
or disallowed parts and accessories. Team may face possible disqualification if disallowed parts cannot be removed.
2. Teams are allowed to use only one controller (RCX or NXT). However,
the number of motors and sensors is not restricted. The number of
parts is not limited as long as they are from the 9794 set if teams are
using RCX or 9797 set if teams are using NXT. Mixing RCX and NXT
parts is strictly not allowed. No other parts from other educational
sets are allowed.
Samples are

The size of the robot and all its extensions as to width and length will
be limited to 250mm by 250mm. This limit applies to:
any extensions that has the potential to be positioned during the
run to exceed the given limit; and,
any accessories that may be later added to the robot during the
run.
If any robot with its extensions attached is found to exceed these
dimensions, the team will be asked to remove exceeding part of the
robot immediately at any time during the competition. Time will
continue to run in such instances.
*There is no height restriction for the robot.
Please click the link to the part lists of NXT 9797

NJRC Training Lesson 10 dated 15th July 2008

2008-07-13T01:46:00.000-07:00

Lesson 10 dated 14th July 2008

Tasks at hand
To test out NXT with two motors and one castor wheel using dual light sensors
Challenges we face
NXT unable to drive in a straight path.
To spread the centre of gravity of NXT robot- how to balance the weight of the robot
Spacing of sensors and distance between sensor and the map.

First Attempt on NJRC 2008 Mission One using the Layout Map.
NXT Robt used four wheel drive with gear ratio 3:1
Length and wide complied with requirements: 25 cm by 25 cm
For simplicity no touch sensor and no ultrasonic sensor were used.
But the NXT was fitted with dual light sensor to trace the black line.
It relied upon the rotation sensor of the dc motor to position the robot.

Layout Map

Video Clip on Starting using dual light sensors
Spacing of the light sensors is important. Tried to minimize the distance between sensors.

On return journey using the black line we encountered problem. We need to adjust the position of the robot to take care of the curvature of the black line

Action in class

Video Clip

Successful run at last

NJRC Training Lesson 9 dated 8th July 2008

2008-07-11T06:58:00.001-07:00

First Attempt to build a NXT for Mission One of NJRC 2008

NJRC Training Lesson 8

2008-07-02T01:27:00.000-07:00

NJRC 2008
Announcement on 28th June 2008 at
Singapore Science Centre

Notes on restart

Stopping at Goal Area

Playfield

Dual Light Sensor for NXT

Video Clip on dual light sensor

NXT_G Program Source for Dual Light Sensors

NJRC Training Lesson 7

2008-05-13T03:25:00.000-07:00

Lesson 7 on Assembly of Tribot
dated:13th May 2008
Click here to download Tribot assembly instructions in pdf
A short video clip using Lego Digital Designer Lego Software to assemble Tribot

Tribot Images

Our Team Members
from left
Jeremy, Yong Han, Samuel, Preston Ngoui, Zhan Wei

Assembly of Tribot

Everybody was engaged

We sorted it out

We completed most of the construction

Testing

Final Touch

It passed the test and quality control

NJRC Training Lesson 6

2008-04-22T16:26:00.000-07:00

Lesson 6 on creation of My Block and various versions of light sensor NXT-G programs
Dated:22nd April 2008.
Next lesson scheduled on 13th May 2008
My Block

Typical Line Follower NXT-G Programs

WRO Layout Map

NJRC Training Lesson 5

2008-04-15T17:37:00.000-07:00

Lesson 5 NJRC Training
Single Light Sensor Program

Video Clip

Students were informed on
WORLD ROBOT OLYMPIAD 2008
Competition Rules - Regular Category
Materials used to assemble their robots, including controller, must be from LEGO® MINDSTORMS™ RCX and/or LEGO® MINDSTORMS™ Education NXT sets. Control programs must be ROBOLAB or LEGO® MINDSTORMS™ NXT software (Education version). A team using materials and control programs that are not approved by the committee will be disqualified at that match.
Regulations about robot:
1. The maximum dimensions of the robot before it starts must be within 250mm × 250mm × 250mm.

2. Teams are allowed only one controller (RCX or NXT).

3. Amounts of motors and sensors are not restricted.

4. Any actions or movements by the participants are not allowed to interfere or assist the robot while it is running. Teams that violate this rule will be disqualified at that match.

5. A robot must be autonomous and finish the missions by itself. Any radio communication, remote control and wired control systems are not allowed while the robot is running. Teams in violation of this rule will be disqualified and must quit the competition immediately.

6. If robot is equipped with NXT as a controller, the Bluetooth function must be switched off and downloading programs must be done through USB cable
Playfield

1) The court will be 2370mm long, 1150mm wide (The court will be white). The black line will be 18mm wide. The circle diameter size will be 100mm.

2) The start and finish area will be 400mm long and 370mm wide.

3) The wall will be 1540mm long, 18mm wide, and 50mm high. The triangular prism will be 120mm long, 120mm wide, and 100mm high.

4) There are 2 poles that make a gate. The diameter of poles is the same size of a can.

5) The objects (triangular prisms, wall, and poles) will be fixed on the court.

6) The targets will be cans. The maximum weight will be 345g. The weight of a can will be announced on the morning of November 1st.

Rules:
1) Each match will last for 2 minutes (=120seconds).

2) Robots must start from the start area. Any part of the robot is not allowed to exceed the start area before it starts.

3) Robot will start from the start area, going through the gate and challenge each target points, and finally it must return to the goal area (= start area) by going through the gate again.

4) The sequences of tumbling are decided; I→II→III

5) Definition

1. Going through the gate: All parts of the robot finish going through the gate.

2. Tumbling: Robot must knock over and fall down the object from the top of triangle prisms.

NJRC Training Lesson 4

2008-04-08T16:27:00.000-07:00

Lesson 4 NJRC Training dated 8th April 2008
Challenge Mission:
To rescue a person from a specified location.
To evaluate the NXT robot with gribber performance.

A short Journal for the NXT robot with Gribber

Charting strategy and program

Discussion

Trying to catch up with the work

Testing the rescue mission

Missed the location

Still searching

So near and yet so far

Almost .....

We missed the target

Repaired the robot

At last we accomplished the mission. Hurray!!!

NJRC Training Lesson 3

2008-04-01T17:19:00.000-07:00

Lesson 3 dated 1st April 2008
Use of Gribber with Ultrasonic Sensor

Size of Robot:
Length Overall: 34 cm
Width : 17 cm
Height : 20 cm

Type of Gribber: Two Sides Gribber powdered by one NXT Motor.
Sensor used: Ultrasonic Sensor.

Testing of behaviour of NXT Robot with Gribber by students

Setting of rotation of gribber

How tight for the Gribber for a empty Yakult bottle ?

Top View

Front View

Testing of line tracing of NXT robot on a NJRC 2007 map

Ultrasonic Sensor did not seem to pick up the reflected signal from the Yakult bottle

Video Clip on our Learning Journey

Note On Ultrasonic Sensor
The Ultrasonic Sensor measures distance in centimeters and in inches. It is able to measure distances from 0 to 255 centimeters with a precision of +/- 3 cm.

The Ultrasonic Sensor uses the same scientific principle as bats: it measures distance by calculating the time it takes for a sound wave to hit an object and return – just like an echo.

Large sized objects with hard surfaces return the best readings. Objects made of soft fabric or that are curved [like a ball] or are very thin or small can be difficult for the sensor to detect.

*Note that two or more Ultrasonic Sensors operating in the same room may interrupt each other’s readings.
Our study showed the following
Position of Ultrasonic Sensor above the ground level is highly important.
In our case, detection of Yakult bottle is difficult.
Since our robot was zigzag tracing the black line whilst looking for the Yakult bottle ultrasonic sensor might not have enough time to receive the echo signal.
Larger is the area of object better is the detection. Line of sight is important.

NJRC Training Lesson 2

2008-03-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

Lesson 2 Use of third motor to build a gribber with two claws.
Dated 25th March 2008

Students assembled a NXT bot with claws

One Group completed the assembly

This student proudly presented his completed assembly

NJRC Lesson 1

2008-03-18T03:02:00.000-07:00

The National Junior Robotics Competition (NJRC) is an exciting and unique event organized annually by the Singapore Science Centre and the Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), and is sponsored by the Ministry of Education and Singapore Totalisator Board. This all-round competition promotes strategy building, teamwork and creativity amongst the student-participants.

Teams
The NJRC is open to the following categories:
A: Primary 3 to Primary 6

Teams, of not more than 5 students each, will work together in order to fulfill the mission of the competition

The primary task for the teams will be to build a robot to take on the challenge during the NJRC event. Using the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® kit, students have to construct the robot and program their creation to overcome a specially designed and challenging course called 'the playing field'.

Side Events/ Open Categories
Every year, there will be side events such as SUMO and Sprint race as well as an open category where students can use any material on the specific theme. It will occurr on the Grand Finals.

Dates to be remembered
Challenge Announcement:
28 June 2008

Presentation Week:
25 August - 29 August 2008
29 August 2007 (Presentation Finals)

Challenge Week:
2 September - 5 September 2008

6 September 2008 (Grand Finals)

Use of a third motor to make a claw

Learning Journey on use of NXT Claw
First Attempt

Second Attempt

Third Attempt

Contemplation on how to procced

Exchange of ideas

Mini Competition

Outdo one another we learned more

We quarrelled and we agreed

We need to learn
- how to organize ourselves and distribute our tasks within the team.
- how to write journals using Microsoft Powerpoint
- how to use digital camera to take pictures and edit pictures.
- how to record video clips using movie camers.
- how to do research on topics to be announced by NJRC committee.
- how to make presentation to class
Only the best teams would be selected by teacher to represent the school.

NXT Basic Lesson 6

2008-03-04T19:53:00.000-08:00

Lesson 6 dated 4th March 2008
Revision of Basic Concepts

Gears and Gear Ratio
Gears are used for two basic purposes:

1) increase or decrease rotation speed
2) increase or decrease power or "torque"

Torque is inversely proportional to speed.

You can calculate the "gear ratio" by using the number of teeth of the "drive gear" divided by the number of teeth of the "driven gear.

To increase speed and reduce torque use a large drive gear coupled to a smaller driven gear. In this example we use a 40 tooth drive gear to turn smaller gears to get the illustrated gear ratios.

So the 8 tooth gear will turn 5 complete rotations for the every rotation of the 40 tooth gear. The motor has been geared up.

To reduce speed and increase torque use a small Lego gear turning a larger gear. For the 40 tooth gear in this example the gear ratio is 8/40, or 1/5. This gear ratio can also be written as 40:8 or 5:1.

So for every five rotations of the 8 tooth gear, the 40 tooth gear will have turned only once. The motor has been geared down.

Gears Video

First student to pass the test

Video Clip

Frequently asked questions on NXT-G Program on Line tracing

What are the reasons why our NXT robost not able to trace the black line ?

Reasons were (85% very careless) as follows:

- Setting of Light Sensor too far from the black line
- Setting of port of light sensor did not match with NXT-G Program
- Setting of light sensor value for bright is wrong. Normally should be adjusted 0.5 point downward.
- Setting of power setting of either B or C motor be reduced from 75% to 50% or below.
- Using split and loop block was in wrong sequence.
NXT-G for the Line Follower Program

How NXT zig-zag their path on the black line ?

Video Clip

Test Result for the class

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

1. Assemble a NXT robot with minimum number of parts to move around with a light sensor and an ultrasonic sensor.

2. Write a NXT-G program to trace a black line and stopped an object based on robot created from 1.

3. Make your robot to drive forward for 5 rotations at 50% power

How long did it take to go 5 rotations
………. secs
What about 10% power ……… secs

70% power ? ………...secs

Only one team headed by Preston Ngou and Jerry Koh completed the project in time.
Rest of the teams were rather slow in their construction and programming.
Nonetheless they need to put in extra effort. They were playful nonetheless very smart and need time to mould them.

Lego Mindstorm Basic Lessons Class Photos

2008-02-19T15:58:00.000-08:00

Photos of students in class forLego Mindstorm Basic Lessons at Jing Shan Primary School 19th Feb 2008

NXT Basic Lesson 5

2008-02-19T15:55:00.000-08:00

Lesson 5 Basic NXT Lessons dated 19th Feb 2008
Use of Sound Sensor and Touch Sensor

The Sound Sensor makes your robot hear!
The Sound Sensor can detect both decibels [dB] and adjusted decibel [dBA]. A decibel is a measurement of sound pressure.
dBA: in detecting adjusted decibels, the sensitivity of the sensor is adapted to the sensitivity of the human ear. In other words, these are the sounds that your ears are able to hear.
dB: in detecting standard [unadjusted] decibels, all sounds are measured with equal sensitivity. Thus, these sounds may include some that are too high or too low for the human ear to hear.

The Sound Sensor can measure sound pressure levels up to 90 dB � about the level of a lawnmower. Sound pressure levels are extremely complicated, so the Sound Sensor readings on the MINDSTORMS NXT are displayed in percent [%]. The lower the percent the quieter the soundFor example:

• 4-5% is like a silent living room
• 5-10% would be someone talking some distance away
• 10-30% is normal conversation close to the sensor or music played at a normal level
• 30-100% are people shouting or music being played at a high volume

The most efficient way to do this is to use a sound switch. The only difficult part is to figure out what sound level (on a scale of 1-100) your threshold decibel level is. This can be done easily by running the program while your NXT is plugged into the computer and checking the current sound reading in the room, seen in the "feedback box" shown below. In this example, the motors run while the sound is above a certain reading and stop when the sound is below that value.

The Touch Sensor gives your robot a sense of touch. The Touch Sensor detects when it is being pressed by something and when it is released again.

Suggestions for use
You can use the touch Sensor to make your robot pick up things: a robotic arm equipped with a Touch Sensor lets the robot know whether or not there is something in its arm to grab. Or you can use a Touch Sensor to make your robot act on a command. For example, by pressing the Touch Sensor you can make your robot walk, talk, close a door, or turn on your TV.

Students in class

Video Clip

NXT Basic Lesson 4

2008-02-08T21:18:00.000-08:00

Lesson 4
Use of NXT Ultrasonic Sensor and Light Sensor
The NXT Light Sensor

The Light Sensor is one of the two sensors that give your robot vision [The Ultrasonic Sensor is the other]. The Light Sensor enables your robot to distinguish between light and dark. It can read the light intensity in a room and measure the light intensity of colored surfaces.

Suggestions for use You can use the Light Sensor to make a burglar alarm robot: when an intruder turns on the light in your room the robot can react to defend your property. You can also use the Light Sensor to make a line-following robot or a robot that can sort things by color.

The NXT Ultrasonic Sensor

The Ultrasonic Sensor is one of the two sensors that give your robot vision [The Light Sensor is the other]. The Ultrasonic Sensor enables your robot to see and detect objects. You can also use it to make your robot avoid obstacles, sense and measure distance, and detect movement.

The Ultrasonic Sensor measures distance in centimeters and in inches. It is able to measure distances from 0 to 255 centimeters with a precision of +/- 3 cm.

The Ultrasonic Sensor uses the same scientific principle as bats: it measures distance by calculating the time it takes for a sound wave to hit an object and return � just like an echo.

Large sized objects with hard surfaces return the best readings. Objects made of soft fabric or that are curved [like a ball] or are very thin or small can be difficult for the sensor to detect.

Students assembled a simple NXT robot with two wheels

Teacher exhibited another NXT Robot design to the class.

NXT-G Program for line follower

Video Clip

How to incorporate the use of Ultrasonic Sensor within the line tracing program ?
It also demonstrated the tip how to break the loop within a loop.

Improved Version

Students Activities in class

Student was proud that his robot worked in accordance to his NXT-G program to trace a black path

Second group was trying out their programs

Video Cip on Ultrasonic Sensor

Video Clip on Line Tracing of Second Group in Action

Video Clip

Students in class

Video Clip

Video Clip on Ultrasonic Sensor

Student created the NXT robot

Never Give up to debug the NXT-G to trace a black path

New items created by students

Awarded the first prize for completion of tasks.

Awarded the second prize for completion of tasks.

Awarded the third prize for completion of tasks.

NXT Basic Lesson 3

2008-02-02T00:13:00.000-08:00

NXT-G Program Basic for NXT
The LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT software enables us to program our NXT robotic invention and upload our programs to the NXT via USB or Bluetooth connectivity. The intuitive Mac and PC compatible drag and drop software, powered by National Instruments LabVIEW, comes with building instructions and programming guides to easily begin constructing and programming with MINDSTORMS NXT.

Click to watch a short video on Move Block Tutorial

Students in Class
Preston Ngoui was trying out his next assembly of simple NXT car design

Student was putting move block in action

Teacher and students were discussing how to improve their NXT-G programs

Video Clips

Click to watch a short video Tutorial on Loops Block
Click to watch a short video Tutorial on Wait Block
Click to watch a short video Tutorial on Switches Block

NXT Basic Lesson 2

2008-01-26T00:21:00.000-08:00

Click to NXT Parts List
Assembly of Simple Car with two motors

Students in class
Assembly of NXT Parts

Outstanding Team
Left to Right
Jonathan, Benedict, Zhiwei, Zhan Wei

Proud of their Achievement
Left to Right
Benedict, Zhiwei

Outstanding Students to assemble a NXT robot based on their own design.
Left to Right, Jerry, Heng Wei

Proudly showed their Simple NXT Car Design with two wheels

Competition in class

Video Clips
Controlled by touch sensor

Compete against speed

A Short Video Clip Introduction to NXT-G

This video clip is adapted from
NXT Tutorial was developed by Dale Yocum, Head Robotics Coach at Catlin Gabel School in Portland, Oregon. The exercise animations are provided courtesy of Skye Sweeney (aka FLL-Freak). This version of the tutorial may be freely distributed.

NXT Basic Jin Shan PS Lesson 1

2008-01-22T21:44:00.000-08:00

NXT Basic Lessons conducted by IT Leisure and Education Pte Ltd
Four lessons starting on 22nd Jan 2008 3:30pm- 5:30pm Computer Lab 2 3rd Floor
JING SHAN PRIMARY SCHOOL
Address: 5, ANG MO KIO ST 52 ( 569228 )
Tel : 64566305 Fax : 64581619

Students attending the NXT Basic Introductory Lessons

NXT Basic

Lesson on Try Me

Lesson on View

Introduction to Touch Sensor

Introduction to Light Sensor