Edison 2 - Robotics First Thoughts

Fully assembled and able to be used instantly...

Note: This is destined for another side that won't be active until the following year (2017) hence it needs to be worked on and posted now.

This arrived yesterday.   First thoughts? The fact that the Edison 2 came ready assembled and just needed the batteries inserted was excellent.  To have a robot that could move based around object blocking its way essentially was excellent (which didn't require assembling or programming) which I would imagine would help with engaging students.

In terms of costs the unit price is under $100 (although this was gifted to me).  It also required a battery charger which I purchased to ensure that the robot would be regularly useable.   The charger cost $30 and came with a set of four AAA batteries.

On the first runs of the robot with the blocking of objects there is a height restrictions, the block needs to be above a particular height to ensure that the sensor can read it.  I envisaged using a task where the students would need to get to a particular location from A to B without travelling directly.  This would cause the students to create 'blocks' for the robot to ensure that it changed direction.  I intend to use this as a warm up activity to see if the students could use it.

DAY 2: Tried using the barcodes from an A4 copy of the manual - it didn't seem to work.  Need to create it A3 size and see if it makes a difference.  The manual upon first view looks very much orientated towards older students and target group for inquiry will not fit with this.   I modified the first task to being a simple move from location A to B, but B was placed in a differing location.  The idea that I wanted was for the students to build 'block's or temporary walls to cause the robot to constantly turn to get to the location, which worked (although the blocks have to be a minimum height).   Also had C1 use Lego to create attachments, wheels and various add ons which didn't impede the movement of the Edison (now named 'Ollie').   This could be developed into a basic lesson moving forward.

Target Select and Laminated A4 size

DAY 3: Tried the barcodes A3 size - thinking that was the issue, however it proved not to be the case.  The barcode reader was working successfully however C1 and C2 weren't clapping loud enough it transpired.  I had the idea of creating a target to aim the robot at, with the idea that this would encourage them to get from point A to B (one clap to rotate right, two claps to move forward 30cm) however the loudness of the clap and the need to have everything else quite caused a problem.  C2 quickly lost interest in the task complaining that her hands hurt and stopped.   C1 carried out with assistance from myself and completed the task and also complained about the hands hurting.  I would question whether this task would work with the target students.  Some of them are noise sensitive, and a clapper might be required.   I think they could potentially get too excited and cause the clapping pattern to interfere with the task and lose interest.   It would be something that would need a back up plan of sorts.   Its potentially a second lesson but maybe one that could potentially require significant modification to be successful.

DAY 4: Successfully completed the 'light' challenge by having a torch lead the robot.  It was not the best quality on the carpet however it showed evidence of following the light.  It was ultimately more successfully than the clapping task from the day before.    This completes the main test of the robots and I feel confident with developing a set of basic lessons with the Edison that the students could complete - blocking, light, sound and barcode reading.   I don't consider that the programming would work just yet.