Robotics!!!

Students in the fifth grade complete a Robotics unit as part of the computer class curriculum. The focus of this program is two-fold: designing a robot that can meet a physics challenge, and programming that robot so it can perform to the best of its ability for that particular challenge. Robots are built out of Legos around a programmable brick called either an RCX or NXT which can control motors on the robot. Challenges in the past have included the following:

Build a robot that can travel 20 feet in under 2.5 seconds
Build a robot that can pull 20 pounds a distance of two feet
Build a robot that can climb an incline of at least 50 degrees
Build a robot that can clear 8 randomly-placed soda cans off a table
Build a robot that can throw 10 ping-pong balls into a box four feet away
Build a robot that can navigate through a maze and drop an object onto a target
Build a bridge that can support 40 pounds of weights

This spring our 5th and 6th graders will be competing against the 7th grade STEM classes from Durham Community School in a contest at our school. We will be designing robots that can climb slopes, clear tables, throw a discus (a plastic Lego gear wheel), and navigate through a maze. There will also be a speed build competition and a contest to create a boat of Legos that can hold the most weight before sinking. Certificates will be given to students whose robots meet or exceed a standard for each event.