LESSON 2: Robot Movement – Driving

Introduction to sequential programming – Students learn how the robot responds to command icons in sequence and bring together the concepts of time, speed and distance.

In this lesson students will use the basic control drive icons to drive the robot forward and backward a set distance.

Program 1 – Drive the robot forward (Worksheet 2.1)

Using either the worksheet or coloured tape on a desk, instruct the students to write a program that drives the robot forward a set distance from a start marker to a stop marker. The robot must stop before driving over the marker.

Program 2 – Drive the robot backward (Worksheet 2.2)

Using either the worksheet or coloured tape on a desk, instruct the students to write a program that drives the robot backward a set distance from a start marker to a stop marker. The robot must stop before driving over the marker.

Program 3 – Drive the robot forward and backward (Worksheet 2.3)

Using either the worksheet or coloured tape on a desk, instruct the students to write a program that drives the robot forward and then backward a set distance from a start marker to a stop marker and then back again.

Program 4 – Speed play (Worksheet 2.4)

Ask the students to experiment with speed, time and distance.

Students can create their own start and stop markers.

What is the quickest time that the robot can travel to the stop marker and back?

What is the slowest time that the robot can travel to the stop marker and back?

For student creativity they can add beeps and flashing LED lights to their program.

Each worksheet asks students to describe what the robot is doing and why. A typical answer may look like:

The robot drives forward because the program has a drive icon that states forward. It drives to the finish line and stops because the time in the event wait icon is 0.35 seconds and this is how long it takes the robot to drive that far.