This page is dedicated to provide information about our class.  Notes, test information, and upcoming events will be posted on our Google Classroom page.

Introduction to Robotics Engineering introduces students to the world of robotics.  This course will introduce students to the fundamental engineering concepts related to the design, construction and programming of a robot. 

Units to be covered:

Unit 1: Introduction to Robotics

Unit 1 introduces the student to the world of robotics. It reviews fundamental robotic terms and concepts required throughout the course. The student learns about the engineering design cycle and how to record information into an engineering notebook. An entire section in Unit 1 is dedicated to robotic safety in the classroom. 

As the student progresses through the unit, they will be constructing their first Vex robot, the BaseBot. They will learn how to use basic assembly tools as well as how to identify available Vex robotic components from the classroom inventory system. The BaseBot construction is broken down into subsystems like chassis, drive train, wiring and wireless control.

Unit 2: Introduction to Vex Programming

Unit 2 introduces the student to programming. EasyC, the block style programming language for Vex, is introduced and will be used throughout the course. 

The student is shown the differences between operator control of the robot and autonomous control. The student learns how to connect the BaseBot to the computer and control it via an Online Window in easyC. Students are challenged to create pseudo code for their programs before trying to create real programs in order to better understand the concept of programming flow. 

Fundamental programming concepts like loops, statements, variables, constants and assignments are reinforced with activities and worksheets. Students learn how to create simple programs to command the robot to go forward, backward, left and right. They learn how to simplify their code using functions. 

Unit 3: Physics and Robotics

Unit 3 reviews many fundamental physics concepts such as speed and torque and shows how they apply to robotics. 

Students will learn about motors and how they are used in robotics. Time is spent testing the Vex motors on the Basebot and logging performance information into the engineering notebook for future use.

Unit 4: Sensors

Unit 4 introduces the student to open- and closed-loop robotic navigation using sensors.

Digital bumper switches are added to the BaseBot so that it can interpret its environment autonomously. An ultrasonic range-finding sensor is introduced to allow the robot to sense its environment without touching it, and a line-following sensor is used to make the BaseBot follow a line on the playing field autonomously.