Steps to Preparing for the RCX Annual Challenge

Make practice FUN as you learn how to use the robot.  As you go through each step, introduce a fun activity, comment, etc..  Remember, Thomas Edison went through 10,000 learning opportunities with the creation of the light bulb before he created a light bulb that would work. 

"Trial and Error" and "Practice" are your keys to success. 

 

The steps will be presented from my experience as a coach.  My team and I worked over several weeks.  Each week I introduced new concepts.  The following steps will be presented over a 10 Week time frame.  Each school/team my progress through these Weeks are different speeds.  The word Week should be viewed as a period of time, not 7 days on the calendar.

 

 Videos and documents will be added over time to help the Coach prepare the team.

Week

0

Pre-Season Activities

     Where, when, who, why, & how much will it cost?

Fielding a Team

     Who will be on the team?

Week

1

1st Robotics Practice

      Practice Prep, Welcoming Students, Parent Meeting

Practice with the Robot

       Download the LEGO Mindstorm EV3 software from LEGO. Free to download.

Go to the LEGO Education website to download.

       Use the LEGO Mindstorm EV3 software to learn how to construct and program your robot.

       Coaches should use the tools within the softwware to monitor the progress of the team.

Week

2

 

 

 

 

 

2nd Robotics Practice

      Snack, Play, Work, Cleanup

Discuss the Characteristics of the Robot

a Move Like the Robot
b Tires
c Gears
d Simple Machines
e

Advanced Concepts

Friction, Torque, Balance
Week 3

Simple Machines

The Arm

Tires or Tyres

Gears

Week

4

 

 

 

 

What is your strategy

Design your robot

 

Discuss the RCX Annual Challenge

a Mat Layout
b Mission Objects
c What does the Mission require the Robot to do?
d Similarities among Missions and Mission Objects.
e Strategize, Segment Missions, Combine Missions 

Week

5

Using "Jigs'

Construct Your Robot

 

Combine Your Knowledge of the Robot to the RCX Annual Challenge

Week

6

 

 

 

 

Trial and Error, Patience

a Construct Prototypes to Solve the Missions
b Turn the Prototype into an Attachment for the Robot
c Program the Robot and Attachment
d Modify your Attachment
e Repeat
f Use your Attachments for as many Missions as possible

Week

7

 

 

 

Trial & Error Perfecting

 

Prepare for the Tournament

a  Introduce the Clock
b Practice, Handling the Robot and Attachments
c Practice, Problems, "What If", Things go Wrong 
d Practice, Overcome Human Error

Week

8

Introduce Time

Introduce Conflict

Week

9

Prepare for the Tournament

      Practice to provide positive results.

Week

10

Tournament Ready

      Make sure all arrangements, transportation are set.

Week

11

What's Next

     Continue a year round robotics program

     Cleanup your robotics supplies in preparation for next year.