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Tetrix Robotics
Cyber Security III Tetrix Project
Cyber Security III is a project based application of knowledge gained in Cyber Security I and Cyber Security II. The current and in-depth project is the development of Tetrix Robotics with the help of an AFRL scientist/engineer.
Presentation of Assembly, Engineering Design and Programming Skills
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Two essential questions will be answered:
“Can we use our knowledge and skills to program the Tetrix Robot to perform the minesweeping experiment?”
“Can we successfully introduce the WeDo Robotics program to Grade 3 so they can assemble and program robots?”
The following higher level thinking skills are demonstrated:
- Knowledge and application of facts
- Comprehension (understanding of facts, demonstrated by organizing or interpreting them). Using an engineering manual as a guide and then coming up with a design to perform the task.
- Application (using understanding to solve problems)
- Analysis (recognizing patterns suggested by facts and than making adjustments)
- Synthesis (producing something new). Students mounted a laptop computer on one of the robots, downloaded skype, and attached a webcam to create a hallway scout.
Evaluation (judging quality of their design and improving it)
<http://www.learnnc.org/reference/higher+order+thinking>
ELA Standard 1 Students will speak for information and understanding. As speakers they will use oral language to interpret, apply, and transmit information.
ELA Standard 4 Students will listen and speak for social interaction.
Students will use oral and written language for effective social communication with parents, teachers and school board.
Mathematics, Science and Technology Learning Standards
Standard 1: Analysis, Inquiry, and Design
Standard 5: Technology
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- Engineering Design
- Key Idea 1 - Engineering design is an iterative process involving modeling and optimization finding the best solution within given constraints which is used to develop technological solutions to problems within given constraints.
- Key Idea 1 - Alternate - Engineering design is a repetitive process involving modeling and optimization, finding the best solution within given constraints which is used to develop technological solutions to problems within given constraints.
- Computer Technology
- Key Idea 1 - Computers, as tools for design, modeling, information processing, communication, and system control
- Technological Systems
- Engineering Design
Key Idea 4 - Technological systems are designed to achieve specific results and produce outputs, such as products, structures, services, energy, or other systems.
Cyber Security III students also educate the school community. In addition to the Tetrix demonstration video is the WeDo education project with Grade 3 students.
Assembly and Engineering Design
"Maxwell" in early stages when cannons
were sported for "looks". The outer frames were
built to protect the light sensor for the
minesweeping task.
Innovative design and programming skills-
Robert and John improved their original design by taking
the outside frames off and using one to cover
the sensor for protection. They mounted "Junior" our mini laptop and a web cam on the framework for an innovative design and programmed Max to become a hallway scout!
Maxwell
"Droid" is Ryan's and Dom's robot
Droid is designed and programmed
to rove the activity map and identify
the location of "mines" by the
spikes on the Intelligent Control
software program on the laptop.
Yes 
"Yes" differs from Maxwell and Droid because it has a 3 wheel base design.
The front wheel can move sideways without a swivel because of its design.
We have yet to explore its capabilities.
"Yes" is our AFRL mentor's model
Ryan Koscielniak
Dom Provenzano
Assembly and Programming Journal
12-13-10 – 12-20-10
We were given the Tetrix Robot Kit. After we were given the kit we started building the robot. We built the base of the robot and put on the wheels.
12-21-10
We worked on finding a way to mount the battery to the robot.
1-3-11
We made the NXT brick and the light sensor work. The brick is like the “brains” of the operation. The light sensor is there to act as a detector.
1-4
We built a protector for the light sensor.
1-5
Finished basic design, and stated to install software.
1-6
Continued installing the Intelligent Control Software
1-7
Attached motor to second wheel. Ryan forgot to put wires on the motor. Discovered internal Bluetooth in Jr.(small laptop). Finally Connected it to Jr. and it moved.
1-10
We conducted the minesweeper experiment.
1-11 – 1-24
We wrote up our experiment. See Experiment Write up below
Tetrix Robot Minesweeper Experiment
Dominick Provenzano
Ryan Koscielniak
January 2011
Objective: To identify the general location of “mines” (white dots on a black background) using our TETRIX vehicle as a search robot. We couldn’t see our vehicle during the activity and will have to rely on real-time light sensor data information to locate the mines.
Materials: Tetrix robot, Intelligent Control software, light sensor, activity mat, laptop, remote control, internal bluetooth
Experiment: After originally constructing these robots, we placed a Tetrix activity mat (shown in Figure 1) on the ground that had four white dots on a black background (these were “the mines”.) Using the Intelligent Control software, we watched the reading on the laptop as the robot maneuvered on the mat. We printed the screens for inclusion in our report.
Observation:
Figure 1: The robot on the mat
Figure 2: The robot on the rug – sensor value of 31
Figure 3: Robot on the Black Part of the mat – flat lined at 28
Figure 4: Robot on the White background – has a starting sensor value of 35 and increases to 55
Figure 5: Robot on the Gray background: starting sensor value of 50 and decreases to 40.
Conclusion: We successfully mounted a light sensor on our Tetrix robot and using the intelligent control software we successfully detected the mines on the activity mat.