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iBot
The name iBot

Since the ibot was initially introduced using only light and ultrasonic sensors, the children where asked to come up with a meaningful name. The name ibot came from a grade 3 student who under stood the robot saw things, but not how you and I see things, they knew the ultrasonic sensor looked like eyes, and understood it was similar to how bats navigated, they also knew the light sensor also saw things, like our eyes ses light.

The Challenge

I have used LEGO robotos for many years my classes working with children from Grade 1 and up. For years I used the RCX on the tankbot, the design was great since it left the exciting pieces to the end, now as NXT is the main stream LEGO Robitics set, I needed an alternate model, I tried to modify the Tankbot, but the NXT Brick is not an even number of studs across like the RCX and the new motors also presented a problem, so modifying the Tankbot was out of the question. and could not be easily built by children at home if they only had the NXT set. So the only option was to design new NXT robot.
There are lots of really good designs but none could meet all the design criteria I needed. A key factor in the design is it had to be built within a 40 min children’s lunch time period, and be interesting and easy enough for children aged 6 – 18 to build, while still having enough time to use it with the pre loaded programs, the design had to also be appealing enough that children would want to program it using the various sensors and use the design as foundation to build from.

Design criteria

I set about creating model with my son to solve this problem. The first step was to build a chassis that could be easily built using the min number of pieces (70 pieces including the wires and sensors), and to serve as the plateform to support the NXT, this was a very important part of the design since the NXT had to be one of the last parts added in order to keep the children focused on the building and not playing with the NXT Brick, they are facincated by the brick and what happens when they turn it on, so the distraction of playing with the fascinating brick had to be left to the end. All the pieces used are functional and serve as connection points so children can build off a solid structure to turn it into a simple sumo bot etc. The other critical design aspect was access to the battery compartment, since my NXT bricks are in constant use, I need quick easy access to the batteries.

Key elements for the iBot design

Challenging and interesting for all ages

Teach engineering concepts such as strong stable structures

Easily modified by adding attachments such as rams for Sumo etc.

Min number of pieces

Pieces need to be available

Building process was done in less than 10 steps

NXT was installed in at the end

Sensor attachment was simple to build yet multi functional, easy to switch sensors around to try out different things

Easy access to batteries and USB port without pulling pieces off

Robot was strong enough to let kids push and pull it around the floor to use the Record and Play Block

Use of short wires to eliminate getting caught and making the robot look messy

Easily dismantled in the min amount of time by children, or workshop teachers so it is ready for the next class to use.

The program

The program I submitted only uses the ultrasonic senor, but the same concept would work for sensing a dark line instead of a solid object. The program is anotated so you can easily determine what does what in the program so you can modify it to the way you you want it.

Posted by:

 theLEGOguyian

Created:

 31 October 2009

Rate:

 

Tags:(?):

 snapbot

iBot LDD Instructions

Here are the LDD instructions for iBot. You might discover there are other improvements that can be made, let me know by leaving a comment and consider the changes.

Comments

5 comments

  • detain

  • hey ièm in your lego robotics course and this rocks. i give it 6 stars! keepon building!

  • Posted 1292 days and 19 hours ago


  • theLEGOguyian

  • Thanks! Hopefully as I find more time I will build and post more projects.
    detain you have some pretty good ideas and projects that you posted.

  • Posted 1289 days and 12 hours ago


  • justucru

  • bravo mec

  • Posted 1255 days and 2 hours ago



  • detain

  • dear thelegoguyian,
    i have been working on a gbc and will post it soon. once again great project!

  • Posted 1183 days and 21 hours ago


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