We are putting together a class on “Familiarization to VEX V5 Robotics.” This will be a five day JROTC summer camp. Two 45 minute sessions each day with about 20 students each session.
We came up with the following so far.
Introduction video showing this years game.
Set up playing field and demonstrate how the robot maneuvers the field and gets points.
Have a table set up showing the brain connected to the battery and a motor. (Not sure exactly what else we should do with it)
Final thoughts on starting up a team
Cost of starting a program to include registration fees.
Create a brochure with helpful links for coaches
What else would you suggest for different stations?
I am by myself, so I would have to talk about each station one at a time.
I would have something on how to build a basic frame and drive system to show how to use the structural elements, connectors, shafts, bearings, collars, spacers and washers together correctly. Maybe you have a few robots at various stages of being completed and have them work through getting them completed to then demonstrate how the robots work and maybe how points are scored.
Not knowing what you have available makes it hard to answer. Setting up a playing field is going to be a chore, and may be really impressive, but they are not going to learn much about the game in the time you will have left.
Maybe I could set up a couple laptops and show them our notebook from this year. Maybe give them a simple assignment to add some pro and cons to one of the projects.
I really like that idea. I think I will scrap the playing field idea and go with setting up different stations. I have a ton of parts and equipment. I have 2 complete super kits plus a bunch of robotics equipment that was donated to us from another school. We have extra brains, batteries and motors.
We built peg boards and have all our metal equipment hanging on the walls in our classroom. I also plan to set up a projector and a portable screen to show this years game. I plan to talk a little about the start-up cost, registration fees and fund raising and sponsors.
I guess I could create small assignments with different drive trains and half built robots. Somewhere in there I would like to throw in a block code station and a digital engineering notebook station as well. Not sure how I will assign tasks in those two areas.
I think this is quite good for a class that you’re leading yourself provided that you’re able to help out at most of the stations (the robot maneuvering station and the brain-battery station would probably need more assistance).
Your 5th station on the cost of starting a program may not be the most relevant for students but would probably be quite important to instructors. One idea that I have is that you could potentially make this station into some sort of information packet or brochure for the instructors to read on their own time, with contact information to understand more about starting a program.
For each station I will have instructions written out for them. Maybe even some laptops set up. I decided not to put up the playing field, instead I plan to have separate stations set up with various things to do. I just need ideas of what kind of stations to set up. I like the idea of having various stages of the robot built. Maybe a block code station. Not sure how to do that yet. Defiantly an instructor information station.
What would be some examples to build at camp? I’m thinking of having different stations with a variety of pre-made incomplete robots built. What are some good ideas to have pre-made where the students can finish building. They will rotate from station to station.
Maybe the students could build like a simple conveyer belt. This could teach them: programming, use of motors, movement(I guess), structural integrity/bracing, spacing on axels, and maybe a guide for the object (triball) with polycarbonate(if you have access to a lazar cutter).
Parts of a claw bot or hero bot could be an idea if you’re working with people relatively new to V5, which could be a starting point, especially if you are going to introduce VRC within the camp.
Because of how my organization’s season and school year are structured, what we tend to do is spend some time at the start of the season for newer members to disassemble the past year’s competition robot. This seems rather contradictory to having members try to build their own robots, but we found that this is effective in learning about some robot subsystems, specific techniques for building V5 robots, and teaching organizational skills while working with robotics. This probably won’t be helpful for a short summer camp, but it is something that you could think about.
Our intro camp for both IQ and VRC is a two day / two hour event.
Day 1 starts with one or two students building a basic two-motor chassis. They first learn about the brain with devices, batteries, testing motors, and cables. Next they start to build the chassis following provided instructions, using parts, bearings, axles, wheels, and connecting the brain / syncing the controller. Every brain is preprogrammed with a tank drive. It finishes with the students driving and playing a simple 1 v 1 VRC or 1 & 1 IQ game like pushing blocks into a goal.
Day 2 is using VexCode config to update the programming on their robot - perhaps they prefer arcade control. Then I cover the basics of autonomous blocks programming using a drivetrain. I have a simple maze on the field and students have to program their robot to navigate it. (It has two symmetrical paths to two robots can run at the same time.)
By the time students have completed this class they will know if they are interested in competitive robotics. We then have follow up classes that delve further into aspects of the program.
You seem to have a good grasp on what you need. I don’t think you should give up on the idea of starting with some type of interactive demonstration of the game. You just don’t need to set up a complicated field during the class. It sounds like the easiest way to do the coding is after the students have assembled their robots, they code them to complete a designated task.
I would do the note-booking at the end, as an exit ticket for the last block of the course. They can do mini entries at the end of each day, then consolidate, illustrate and elaborate.
Let me know if you have any questions about costs. I run a high school team in CA so I have a good idea of what you would need to have a good team.
My only issue is i will have two 45 minute sessions each day. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. I would need to break the stations down to 20 or 30 stations followed by me talking or showing them something as a group. 300 students will come through my station, but i will only see them one time. Suggestions?
Hi David,
Thanks for explaining this. So is it more of a Round Robin style of training? I was thinking you would have one group that you would work with start to finish. About the only thing I can say is to keep each station pretty simple. You are not going to be able to much more than give an overview of each aspect, and you need to keep any hands-on aspects simple and repeatable so they can get done in the time you have.