Week 3 – Sci Eng Robotics I (PM)

Science + Engineering II – Bridge Builders: Minecraft Mastery & Real-World Engineering

Week 3 – PM | Summer SciTech July 15 – 19 | 1PM – 4PM

Challenge –

How can you bridge the virtual and physical worlds by designing and constructing a bridge-building system?

Your challenge is to create a sturdy and functional bridge in both Minecraft and the physical world using LEGO Technic bricks. Once your bridges are built, engineer and code a robot capable of traversing over your structure. This interdisciplinary adventure will draw upon your skills in architecture, engineering, and programming. How can you ensure that your bridges withstand the challenges presented in both the virtual and physical realms, and how will you program your robot to successfully navigate these innovative pathways?

Projects Include –

Island Hopping, Speed Run Bridges, Bridge Builders with Lego Technic Bricks. Spanner Bot

Learning Objectives –

1. Understanding Bridge Engineering Principles:
   • Explore fundamental physics concepts related to bridge engineering, including forces, loads, and structural stability.
   • Understand key engineering principles such as tension, compression, and the distribution of forces in a bridge structure.
2. Applying Physics to LEGO Technic Construction:
   • Learn how to translate physics principles into practical applications by designing and constructing a bridge using LEGO Technic bricks.
   • Experiment with different bridge designs and materials to understand their impact on structural integrity.
3. LEGO Technic Building Skills:
   • Develop proficiency in using LEGO Technic elements to build structurally sound and functional bridges.
   • Apply engineering knowledge to make design decisions regarding the choice of LEGO Technic components and their configurations.
4. Introduction to Coding for Robotics:
   • Gain basic coding skills, focusing on the programming language relevant to the robot platform being used, such as visual block-based languages and Python.
   • Understand the relationship between code and robot behavior, and learn to program simple commands for movement and navigation.
5. Robot Navigation and Traversal Skills:
   • Engineer and code a robot to successfully navigate and traverse the LEGO Technic bridge.
   • Explore concepts such as sensor integration and feedback mechanisms to enhance the robot’s ability to adapt to the bridge’s challenges.

* Pre-requisites: basic keyboard + mouse skills, ability to focus for extended periods of time