Lesson 8: Line Sensing and Tracking
Industrial like robotic behaviour – Students learn about basic robot sensing and control similar to that used in advanced automated factories and warehouses.
Understanding the line tracking sensor (Worksheet 8.1)
Students become familiar with the robot’s line tracking sensor and how the robot can detect whether the driving surface is black or white.
Program 1 – Drive until a black line (Worksheet 8.2)
Students write a program that drives the robot until it encounters a black line. They also confirm the questions about the detection of different colours.
Program 2 – Drive inside a border (Worksheet 8.3)
Students write a program that drives the robot inside a border. The line tracking sensor detects the border and the robot turns around. They can use Work sheet 2 or create their own using a large piece of paper and a black marker or black electrical tape on a white desk. As a fun class activity place all the robots inside a large border.
Program 3 – Follow a line (Worksheet 8.4)
Students write a program that follows a black line. They can use Work sheet 2 or create their own track using a large piece of paper and a black marker or black electrical tape on a white desk.
Video – Humans need not apply
Line tracking is a very basic robotic behaviour that is used in many automated factories and warehouses today, but how about in the future. What will the workplace of the future look like with more robots? Will it even exist? The following video will stimulate discussion amongst the class about what the wide spread uptake of robots mean for the future of humans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Pq-S557XQU (15 minutes)
