June 23, 2004
Students are programming robotics in the Marrow Library Public Technology area.
They can work on individual computers or on the one that projects for the whole class.
Linda Hamilton explained the challenges that are to be programmed to go on this mat.
They are to get off base and set up the communications tower.
Above left: this is what a LEGO robotics program looks like on the computer screen.
The kids have started their programming.
They're working out the differences between what they programmed,
and what their bots are actually doing.
It will take several trips back and forth between the computer
and the Mars mat before they achieve the desired outcome.
So far, so good: The bots are performing reasonably well, with just a few changes required.
Tomorrow, we're on to Day 4 of the workshop, and Day 2 of the Mars Mission. Each team can
achieve the maximum points total possible by having their bots successfully complete
each part of the mission within a two minute period.
This part of the mission isn't as easy as it looks. The bot has to move to these barriers,
then position itself so that it can pick up the "ice core sample" on the other side.
We're almost at the end of another session, so it's time to demonstrate our accomplishments for the day.
Tomorrow - more Mars missions!