CLASS+5

=JULY 12, 2011 =

I came to this class late because I was writing another exam. Laura was already hard at work assembing the Mini Bot.

I helped Laura complete the assembly of the Mini Bot. Despite a few of the typical assembly glitches that we typically run into (Misplaced pieces and general confusion), we assmbled the mini bot without a problem.

Coding did not appear to present a problem until we went to test the mini-bot. Our bot wouldn't move so we checked the battery, wireless and camera but when these all appeared to be fine we realized there was a problem with our code. Problem 1: The "Timer 1" interval was set to 0. The interval needed to set to 10 in order for the motor to actually operate. Problem 2; The minbot could only turn in one direction. When wiring the wheel motores we reversed the wires so our bot wheels were rotating in opposite directions causing our bot to stay in position or rotate in circles.

Although it's frustruating when something you build doesn't work, making mistakes is an essential part of the learning process.

Proposed Agenda:
**Discussion**
 * 1) Journal
 * 2) Test #1 and Test #2

**Activities** Everyone should complete the [|MINI-BOT activity] before going further!
 * 1) Essential Programming - [|common VB skills]
 * 2) Finish any activities you have not competed from last class
 * 3) [|Robotic Arm Activity]
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Add a safety switch to the arm - When the switch is ON the arm can move around. When the switch is OFF the arm won't move. (Similar to the enable/disable buttons in other activities)
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Further modify the arm, add sensors - be creative!
 * 6) <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">OPTIONAL: [|Transistors] theory and activity (and... Read Mimms p 48-50)