STEM & Robotics Courses -

• LEGO MINDSTORMS

You probably know that every year we're releasing a Solutions and Review course for the missions of FIRST LEGO League competitions challenges. This year the situation with the competition is a bit different, but here we are - sitting here, acting kinda normal, figuring out what robot should we build to accomplish every mission 10 times in a row.

In the second level of Python for EV3 robots, students learn in-depth the touch sensor. The sensor is used as an input device for manual control of machines, as well as a sensor for autonomous robots. In a pair of lessons, students build a control panel for the grabber and the movement of a crane. Programming wise, students learn how to fork code with "if-else" constructions, how to create conditional and forever loops with "while" and how to negate conditions with "not" operator. In the end of the lesson, robots can detect obstacles and avoid them, so that they traverse a simple labyrinth.

The course introduces students to the programming language Python. We use LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Robots. Python is a popular programming language. It could be used for introducing students to programming, for academic studies, for developing machine learning algorithms and as a general-purpose language. 

During the course, students learn how to read and how to develop Python programs. They use an Integrated Development Environment called Visual Studio Code. Robots are programmed to perform interesting and funny tasks like "bringing you water". The level ends with competition on a playing field with boxes.

This is the eighth level of the Robotics with LEGO curriculum for students in fifth to twelfth grades.

With the help of robots designed for games between students, they learn how to work with variables. Robots keep the score of each player and do calculations with the information in the variables.

In order to group functionality all the time, students use the well-known myBlocks. The concept of behavior is introduced and the programs are organized in many threads that exchange information between each other.

At the end of the level, the robots generate problems with numbers and the students must create equations.

The third level of the Robotics with LEGO curriculum for students from fifth to twelfth grades.

Robots in this level use two or three sensors at a time and students create more complex programs for them. The work of the differential and its usage in vehicles with one drive motor is explored. Robots interact with each other and transfer information or material between themselves. Students learn in depth how to create smoother line-following programs. In the end of the workday, robots leave the conveyor belt and relax with a recreational game of volleyball.

The fourth level of the Robotics with LEGO curriculum for students from fifth to twelfth grades.

In this level students focus on the rotational sensor that is part of every motor in the robotics set. Students also learn to use the fourth sensor in the robotics set - the gyro sensor.
First few robot constructions imitate sea-animals and their behavior. Students create programs that check whether the robot's claws or pecks have successfully caught an object. That sensor in the motors allows the robots to go back in their lairs even after the use of unlimited movement. The rest of the robots are modeled after boats, yachts, and ships. With the help of the gyro sensor, students can set a course for their robots to a given angle and can detect deviations from the course. In open seas, there may be sea-monsters and the robots are being programmed to detect a sudden change in acceleration with the help of the said sensor.

The seventh level of the Robotics with LEGO curriculum for students in sixth or seventh grade.

In this level, student develop a memory training game. The player must remember series of actions like press a button, shake a pole, pull a lever, show one of many colors. In order to program the game, students use many variables and modify their states. Students create their own custom sounds and images, in order to reflect their own personality in the game. In the end of the level, the game stores top scores even after a full shut down with the help of text files.

The second level of the Robotics with LEGO curriculum for students from fifth to twelfth grades.

Students build multiple robots with thread chains and become familiar with the physical concepts of momentum and center of gravity. The concept of gears, their use and basic constructions involving gears are studied.
The new concept of "condition" is introduced in programming. Robots are becoming smarter as they can make complex decisions on their own. "Spy robots" follow their targets and avoid being noticed. This level introduces the light sensor which the robots use to recognize the colors of the objects they are looking for. Robots can stop on a black line and follow a route marked with a colored line on the floor.
The spy's most complex mission in the end of the level is to turn into a sumo wrestler and defeat any other robot in the ring.

FLLCasts 5 day summer camp is designed to engage students in STEM in a fun and entertaining way. The theme of the course is cooperation. Students will not only be introduced to the great world of robotics, while having a lot of fun, but they also have to work with other teams. This will be beneficial for their soft skills. During the 5 lessons students will build 5 different robots. From playing volleyball with robots, through playing the telephone game till launching paper planes!

Note that the course is still under development.

The first level of the Robotics with LEGO curriculum for students in fifth to twelfth grades.

Various constructions with robots are built. Learn how to control the motors so that the robot navigates around the Moon and Earth in various ways. Getting to know the first two sensors. The robot can feel its surroundings with the help of the Touch sensor and avoid obstacles.
The Ultrasonic distance sensor can help the robot avoid obstacles. Students work with concepts like loop, degrees and medium motor. Robots can now do two different actions at the same time - while solving missions on a field, the third motor clears detected obstacles.

This course contains 8 'robots'. Students at the age of 5-7 are introduced to their first constructions and first programs. We've prepared 8 different building instructions of fun, engaging and interesting constructions with simple, but yet meaningful programs. All the models could be built with LEGO Education WeDo 2.0 Core Set 45300

A level, designed for introduction in LEGO-robotics, focused mostly on games. We use goal-oriented challenges to make the students want to accomplish a certain task, learning a lot in the process. Some of the games we have included here are football, bowling, paper-plane competition and many more. It is suitable for studens 8 to 12 years old, but even older students will have a lot of fun with the activities.

This is a brand new course that we are experimenting with in a groups in June 2019. Keep in mind that it is possible to use it for summer camps and groups, but there are a few lessons that will be improved on the fly.

The FLL season is great, but has one disadvantage - it ends. We have prepared that course for those of you that does not want to stop! The course presents a whole new challenge with custom designed field and mission models, that can be built from just 2 LEGO Mindstorms EV3 sets (core+resource). It is a great way to keep the momentum going after the end of the FLL season and prepare in the best way possible for the next.

The sixth level of the Robotics with LEGO curriculum for students in sixth or seventh grade.

In this level, we introduce student-created myBlocks. Any functionality that is used in several places in a program is grouped into myBlock thus shortening the program's length. Students create blocks that return the result of calculations as an output parameter. Input parameters can change the calculations in the myBlocks. The robot constructions measure physical properties like linear or rotational speed, the fuel level in a tank, or length, area and volume.

The eighth level of the Robotics with LEGO curriculum for students in third or fourth grade.

In this level, students learn to use the fourth sensor in the robotics set - the gyro sensor. The robots are modeled after boats, yachts, and ships. With the help of the gyro sensor, students can set a course for their robots to a given angle and can detect deviations from the course. In open seas, there may be sea-monsters and the robots are being programmed to detect a sudden change in acceleration with the help of the said sensor.

This will be the second version of the course book, "A robot a 'day' keeps the question awake". Currently it is a pre-released. Which means that we are working on it and will release it soon.

1. Build one robot each day; 

2. download a ready program;

3. complete three challenges.

The robots, programs and tasks are designed to be used by the student on their own with a really little help from their parents.

This is the fifth level of the Robotics with LEGO curriculum for students in fifth to twelfth grades.

In this level students will learn how to work with data measured by the sensors. The concept of Algorithm is introduced and the programs perform calculations without knowing the values beforehand. The programming blocks transfer data between each other via data wires. The robots are designed to address the problems of security systems. Variety of alarm systems are built and the physical principles of different security methods are considered.

This is the seventh level of the Robotics with LEGO curriculum for students in third or fourth grade.

In this level students focus on the rotational sensor that is part of every motor in the robotics set.
Robot constructions imitate animals and their behavior. Students create programs that check whether the robot's claws or pecks have successfully caught an object. That sensor in the motors allows the robots to go back in their lairs even after the use of unlimited movement.

The absolute starter. A new course book for students that are first grade (7-8 year old). If a student is to young to join the 8-10 years curriculum this is the place where he/she should start.  

The course book contains a number of well structured 2-hourse classes for the youngest students that we've ever managed to productively include in a LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Robotics courses, groups and classes.   

(Course book available only in Bulgarian and will soon be translated)

The sixth level of the Robotics with LEGO curriculum for students in third or fourth grade.

For the first time two different robots are required to solve a challenge. Students learn how to cooperate and find a common approach to the challenges and how to distribute their roles. Various robots are built, even a crane that loads a truck. Students use two sensors at the same time so that they find their target and find out whether their partner-robot is ready with their part of the challenge.

After the great success of the previous two Box Robots Courses (Box Robot 1 and Box Robot 2) we are improving the construction even further showing one more way to build Box Robots and to resolve some of the challenges that we all had with the previous robots. 

Of course attachments are a great topic of the robots. We show the general way in which one is to build attachments with the Knob Wheels and Gear Wheels mechanisms. 

This course collects some of the resources that we have on Football and how to plat football with LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robots. It is not a full fledged course, but it makes it easy to find the two building instructions for the Goalkeeper and for the Striker and the program that goes with them.

This is the fifth level in the Robotics with LEGO curriculum for students in third or fourth grade.

For the first time robots with steering wheels are built in this level. Those robots use one or two drive motors. The work of the differential and its usage in vehicles is explored. Students learn in-depth the working of the light sensor to create better line-following programs. The first two-wheeled motorcycle-robot is built.

There comes a time when you need to program the robot to "follow a line, but if another sensor detects something you would like to stop, do some work, and then continue following the line". This is applicable to competition robots as it is applicable to real-life robots. 

There comes the State Machine Pattern. An advanced and very powerful concept that allows you to easily implement complex robot behaviours with a simple, well-organized, extensible, bug-free program where the robot could be in 1,2, 10 or 100 states and you will still be able to manage the complexity of the world around the robot.    

The firfth level of the Robotics with LEGO curriculum for students in second, third or fourth grades.

The students build many robots with chain-treads. The Color Sensor is introduced and robots use it to recognize the colors of the objects around them. Students learn about gears, basic gear constructions, and their application. Robots now can stop on a black line and can follow a line using their sensor.

The third level of the Robotics with LEGO curriculum for students in second, third or fourth grades.

In these lessons, we stress on more complex and challenging robots. The concept of Condition is introduced. Students learn about physics concepts of inertia and center of mass. Robots with two sensors are built and students program both of them. Programming becomes more complex as robots now can make complex decisions. "Spy"-robots sneakily follow their targets, trying to be undetected.

In this course, we would like to introduce you to multi-purpose attachments. These are attachments designed to accomplish a number of missions when the robot goes out of the base in the FIRST LEGO League competitions. 

You've all seen them. They are kind of large, powered by a few motors and sometimes use rubber bands, levers and other mechanisms. 

Use the course as a preseason preparation and try to solve the tasks to prepare for next year competition. Even if you don't have the field, build the attachments and follow the tasks to inspect their behaviour. Modify them as needed when said.  

This is the first draft of the course including only the attachments in different sections. If you are interested in learning more please enrol in the course and in the next few weeks we would try to record the video tutorials.