TASK #2 Lego Robotics RCX

S 3 Identifies simple cause and effect relationships in systems and explores how human and physical systems affect people and the environment; and uses this understanding to develop and test systems, selecting and using appropriate resources, equipment and techniques.

systems.

S 4 Understands that the elements in a system, including people and components, are related and can work in a variety of sequences; and relates this understanding to the construction, management and control of systems for specific purposes, measuring their performance using own methods.

S 5 Understands how particular systems work, are operated and controlled, the way people interact with them and their influence on communities and the environment; applies this understanding to the control of selected systems; and, when assembling systems that perform specific functions, devises fault-finding procedures to maintain them.

Computers are being used in increasing amounts for control. Cars have chips that control engine performance and interior climate etc. In the future houses may have full computer control to turn on heaters when it is cold, air conditioners when it is hot etc. The owner of the house could access the computer at their house via the Internet and change settings or put the oven on etc. The possibilities are endless. These control chips will all function on an action-reaction basis. This means if something happens the computer will respond and perform an action.

For this task you will be required to work in a group to create a Lego vehicle that uses the RCX Brick. The group is broken into 3 roles; a coordinator, 2 programmers and a researcher/reporter.

The Task is broken into three parts that correspond to the Systems Outcome Statements. You will be required, individually, to demonstrate that you can carry out what is asked in each parts. This means that your group will need to help each other understand what to do. For example the programmers will need to teach the researcher and coordinator how to program the brick, also the researcher will need to show the programmers and coordinator the information they gathered and where they found it etc.

For the first part of the Task you will need to use the vehicle created by your teacher and describe what the vehicle does. You will also need to write the pseudo code for the program that you believe the RCX is running.

For the next part your group will need to build a vehicle that uses a bumper system to detect front collision and is able to move away from the object and continue on its way. The way in which the vehicle looks, moves, turns, senses for objects etc is purely up to your group. You will receive a higher level for the ingenuity demonstrated.

The final part of the Task requires you to answer the following questions:

1. Discuss how robotics is used in industry today and the impacts this has on people and the environment.
2. It is widely regarded that in the future robots will be common place in homes. Discuss the effect that this may have on people and the environment.
3. Movies and television show that robots of the future will have human appearance. Is the human shape efficient and "perfect" enough to be the best design for robots?

This Task does not focus on the Technology Process Strand of the Curriculum Frameworks document. Even though you are not assessed in your ability to design, market and appraise you will be expected to use this process.

This task will take approximately 4 periods to complete. You will be assessed individually, though you will work within a group.

Based on the criteria above you have been rated at:

Comments:

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Teacher: _____________________________ Date: ________/_______/_______