Wednesday, February 26, 2020

6.1.6 Generators

For the lesson today, you are going to use VEX parts to design and test a hand crank generator

Step1) Open the worksheet for 6.1.6 Generators.  Read it all of the way through and make a copy into your GTT Turn in Folder to be turned in before Friday.  

Your prototype will be graded based on this rubric - please read it all of the way through before starting your build. Design Brief for you to fill in, but it does not need to be turned in.

Step 2) Watch the video below for some building tips that may be useful in your build today.

Step 3) Using the VEX parts from your Basic Kit, and working with your group mates, design and build a prototype for a hand crank generator that will provide a near constant power supply to light your LED.


If the video above fails to load, try watching it on YouTube at https://youtu.be/7Zg2C6FoAa0 

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

GTT Testbed Programming Instructions

If you are from outside our district, requesting access does not work.  All of my files are set to "shared" with anyone whom has the link, the videos are being blocked at the district level on both sides.  If you have your teacher email me at cjohnson10@sandi.net, I will gladly share all of my files. PLEASE do not "request access" it does not do any good.

RobotC Intro - Part 1 - Getting Started

To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/yVuhOIvt6o4

By the end of this video you should know how to:     
    Set up RobotC to use the VEX 2.0 Cortex using Natural Language PLTW
    Set the Compiler Target and Download the Firmware to your VEX Cortex


RobotC Intro - Part 2 - Motor and Sensor Setup

To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/cbQIB2w1UBs

By the end of this video you should know how to:     
    Open a PLTW Template and save it as VEX Tested Practice XX
    Use pseudocode to annotate your programs
    Set up the GTT Testbed Configuration and apply the motor and sensors 


RobotC Intro - Part 3 - Programming Motors

To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/PPpqXp4fQ-8

By the end of this video you should know how to:     
    Set up a motor with a start function, wait function and stop function for it to work

On your own, you are challenged to:
     Figure out how to turn on the right motor, left motor and claw motor (forward and reverse)


RobotC Intro - Part 4 - Naming Motors and Turns

To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/bEUmfTC_VCA

By the end of this video you should know how to:     
    Rename code in a program so you use the proper name instead of the port number
    Make your robot do a point turn and how to fix your robot from turning 

On your own, you are challenged to:
     Use the untilBump function to start your program
     also not mentioned in the video, use the untilBump function to stop your program


RobotC Intro - Part 5 - Potentiometer and Limit Switch (for summer camps we will skip the potentiometer - but the Limit Switch is very useful)

To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/EHToqO9_oNE

By the end of this video you should know how to:     
    The potentiometer works

On your own, you are challenged to:
    Use the untilPotentiometerLessThan function to turn left
    Use the untilPotentiometerGreaterThan function to turn right
    Use the untilTouch function along with the limit switch to make the robot go in reverse


RobotC Intro - Part 6 - Solution to Potentiometer (Again - for summer camps we will skip the potentiometer - but the Limit Switch is very useful)

To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/_RJRtavYHuo

By the end of this video you should know how to:     
    What the solution to the potentiometer looks like

On your own, you are challenged to turn on an LED after the limit switch is touched


RobotC Intro - Part 7 - Line Tracker (for summer camps we will skip the line tracker - this is left here as a resource to others out there working with VEX and RobotC)

To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/xdB6MYIAt7k

By the end of this video you should know how to:     
    That it is important to always compile the program and download it to the Cortex 
    That unless you tell the LED to turn off, it will stay on until the battery goes dead

On your own, you are challenged to add a line sensor to shut down the program


RobotC Intro - Part 8 - Last

To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/Z8rrWEZW7Wg


Tuesday, February 18, 2020

GTT Testbed Build Instructions

If you are from outside our district, requesting access does not work.  All of my files are set to "shared" with anyone whom has the link, the videos are being blocked at the district level on both sides.  If you have your teacher email me at cjohnson10@sandi.net, I will gladly share all of my files. PLEASE do not "request access" it does not do any good.

For the PDF instructions - Please Click Here


VEX Testbed 01 Cortex


To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/0xFXPNxHH1A

By the end of this video you should know how to:     
     Attach the Vex Cortex to your base plate using four 3/4" screws and KEPS nuts

VEX Testbed 02 Bumpswitch


To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/N-vioX8O6_U

By the end of this video you should know how to:     
     Attach the bump switch to your base plate using two 1/2" screws and KEPS nuts
     Please keep all twist ties during your build to keep the wires from getting in the way

VEX Testbed 03 Limitswitch 


To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/S1FjVZINoq4

By the end of this video you should know how to:     
     Attach the limit switch to your base plate using two 1/2" screws and KEPS nuts
     Tighten up the screws by hand just tight enough so they are still able to be slid back and forth.

VEX Testbed 04 Line Tracker (for summer camps we will skip the line tracker - I left these instructions here for others to use)


To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/ecoT8h3MfRk

By the end of this video you should know how to:     
     Attach the line tracker to your base plate using one 1/2" screw and a KEPS nut

VEX Testbed 05 Potentiometer (for summer camps we will skip the potentiometer - I left these instructions here for others to use)


To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/QRFJE2Wi53Q

By the end of this video you should know how to:     
     Attach the potentiometer to your base plate using two 3/4" screws and KEPS nuts

VEX Testbed 06 Potentiometer Gear and Axle (for summer camps we will skip the potentiometer - I left these instructions here for others to use)


To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/9BwxKC1o7UI

By the end of this video you should know how to:     
     Attach a 2" axle, 36 -tooth gear and a drive collar to your potentiometer



VEX Testbed 07 Battery Strap 
(Please skip this step, it is not needed as your Testbed does not move)


To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/lUngQW8ILqg

By the end of this video you should know how to:     
     Attach the battery strap to your base plate using two 1/2" screws and KEPS nuts

VEX Testbed 08 Rail


To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/8g3pCIWJSsI

By the end of this video you should know how to:     
     Attach flat bearings to the slotted angle piece using two 3/4" screws and KEPS nuts each

VEX Testbed 09 Motor Assemblies


To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/E1hcyZ4dzgY

By the end of this video you should know how to:     
     Attach two motors to the rail you just built using a 1/4" motor screw and a 1/2" motor screw, slide it into the correct position so that it fits under the rail and then tighten everything up with tools.
     *** This uses different screws than those shown in the pdf instructions ***

VEX Testbed 10 Wheels


To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/Ato9Z_78AH4

By the end of this video you should know how to:     
     Attach two wheels without using any drive collars 
     *** This is different from the pdf instructions ***

VEX Testbed 11 Clawmotor - (this should already be built for you - please do not disassemble your claw - if your claw has the angled gussets, please leave the angled pieces attached to the claw. We will use that one on the Clawbot later)


To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/WC4GUBw69Co

By the end of this video you should know how to:     
     Add a motor to a claw and make your motor open and close.  
     You may need to wiggle open the claw to get the axle to slide into place.
   *** This is a different order of assembly from the pdf instructions ***

VEX Testbed 12 Stand offs


To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/0e81QgsZi9Y

By the end of this video you should know how to:     
    Attach two 2" standoffs to the base plate using two 1/2" screws from underneath

VEX Testbed 13 Attach Rail


To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/LVN2b4qyTaA

By the end of this video you should know how to:     
    Attach the rail to the two 2" standoffs you just added built using two 1/2" screws. 
    Then go back through the entire build to line up the components and tighten all screws

VEX Testbed 14 Electronics Hookups


To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/QpioECHcEXc

By the end of this video you should know:     
    The difference between different components and how to hook up all of the electronics.

VEX Testbed 15 Powering Up


To watch this on YouTube - https://youtu.be/H-w9EQ3YCcU

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Organizing Your VEX Kits

To Organize your VEX Kits:

Step 1) Disassemble anything and everything (EXCEPT THE 2 CLAWS)


DO NOT TAKE APART THE CLAWS 

Step 2) Carefully empty the contents of one of your storage bins onto your desk 

Step 3) Place the empty storage bin slightly beneath your desk and place only the parts that belong in that storage bin, back into the storage bin.

Step 4) Carefully empty the contents of your second storage bins onto your desk 

Step 5) Place that empty storage bin slightly beneath your desk and place only the parts that belong in that storage bin, back into the storage bin

Step 6) Give your teacher your 2 battery packs, any controllers and VEX net keys

Step 7) Go through each compartment in your gray tray making sure that only the parts that are supposed to be there are there.

Step 8) Double check to make sure that the parts are where they belong and have your teacher sign off on your completion.
                               

Kit 1 - the metal parts and the gray tray


If this video does not load, watch it on YouTube at https://youtu.be/rn9J7-2P9Rw


If this video does not load, watch it on YouTube at https://youtu.be/kitrjGAvhNs

Kit 2 - the plastic parts and the electronics



If this video does not load, watch it on YouTube at https://youtu.be/ulLF9GxAaUc

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

6.1.5 DC Motor Modifications

If you are having trouble with your DC Motor, here are some modifications you might want to try to get it to work: 

1) Level the arms.  Take the 2 1/2 in. copper pieces and make sure they are at the same height
2) Straighten the ears.  Make sure the ears on your armature loop are directly opposite of each other, centered and straight.
3) Sand the ears.  To make the commutator, one ear of the armature loop needs to be sanded all of the way around, while the other is only sanded on one side.
4) Sand the arms.  Make sure the contact point inside the loop of the arm and where the alligator leads connect are sanded until you can see the copper underneath the insulation.

If those do not work, try spinning the armature the other direction, switch the sides the ears of the armature loop are facing, OR switch the positive and negative leads.

Monday, February 10, 2020

6.1.5 DC Motor Construction

For today's lesson:
Step 1) Watch the video below about the lab we are going to do today
Step 2) Open up the worksheet - 6.1.5 DC Motor Construction and make a copy into your GTT Turn in folder.
Step 3) Follow the directions written in the worksheet and answer the questions as you go.
Step 4) Submit your completed worksheet into Canvas for grading before the end of class Friday.
Every student makes one of these to take home.


if the video above fails to launch, try to watch it on YouTube at https://youtu.be/vwrdqDmnSwQ 

Step by step instruction video



If the video above fails to load, try watching it on YouTube at https://youtu.be/8DXNPM5b_AA

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

6.1.4 Electricity and Magnetism

For today's lesson:
Step 1) Watch the video below about the lab we are going to do today
Step 2) Open up the worksheet - 6.1.4 Electricity and Magnetism and make a copy into your GTT Turn in folder.
Step 3) Follow the directions written in the worksheet and answer the questions as you go.
Step 4) Submit your completed worksheet into Canvas for grading before the end of class Friday
If that video fails to load, watch it on YouTube at https://youtu.be/pMEmuBmcZl0

Step by step instruction video

If that video fails to load, watch it on YouTube at https://youtu.be/PABZIyFTIVY

Monday, February 3, 2020

6.1.3 Static vs. Current Electricity

For today's lesson:
Step 1) Watch the video below about the lab we are going to do today
Step 2) Open up the worksheet - 6.1.3 Static and Current Electricity and make a copy into your GTT Turn in folder.
Step 3) Follow the directions written in the worksheet and answer the questions as you go.
Step 4) Submit your completed worksheet into Canvas for grading before the end of class Friday
 If that video does not play, try watching it on YouTube at https://youtu.be/GYeoddxGXYU