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First robots

Moving forward, delve into the assembly of simple robots. This tactile activity
not only solidifies understanding but also sparks creativity. Physically construct
basic robots using the assembled components, and then embark on the
programming phase. Create simple routines that prompt your robots to respond
to basic commands, fostering a sense of accomplishment.

First moving robot

A typical first exercise for a basic robot may involve building a robot consisting
only of a programmable hub and two motors, each with a wheel, plus a third
support that allows the robot to rotate or traverse curves (this support could be a
spherical wheel or a skate). Once the assembly is complete, proceed with
programming, creating a program that simply makes the robot move forward,
backward, or navigate curves. For these types of operations, you play with the
speed differences between the two wheels: when the wheels rotate at the same
speed, the robot moves straight, otherwise, it follows curves, the curvature of
which increases with the greater speed difference between the wheels. As an
extreme case, if the two wheels move at opposite speeds, the robot rotates in
place. Programming apps often provide predefined blocks to manage the
movement of robots based on this setup.

The next step, without the need to make changes in the physical construction of

the robot, involves starting to create progressively more elaborate programs
to guide the robot along a specific path. This activity can be easily modulated at
various levels of difficulty: you can begin by instructing the robot to move,
assigning specific starting and ending points, and placing one or more obstacles
along the path. This can then progress to programming paths that require
optimization of the code. For example, a program guiding a robot along a square
path can be created using "loop" blocks instead of simply repeating commands.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the
author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European
Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can
be held responsible for them. Proposal number: 101087107.