RC Car-Grade 6

Robotics in Action

CCDI

Grade 6

Success
Criteria

Learning
Objective

1
Program the actions
of a robot in response

to sensory input.

1

Use a decision tree to
help create the program

Keyword

Robot

RC car

A machine that can
sense, compute and

act on its own

Radio Controlled

Car

Grade 6 / CCDI

Title

:

Robotics in Action

Objective

:

Program the actions of a

robot in response to sensory input.

Success Criteria

:

Students be able to

use a decision tree to help create the

program

Monday, February 5, 2024

Decision Trees

When a machine is learning about something or choosing what action to do it has to make
decisions. To make decisions machines will use the information you give them or
information from sensors. A machine can get information or choose what to do by asking
questions.

Grade 6 / CCDI

Title

:

Robotics in Action

Objective

:

Program the actions of a

robot in response to sensory input.

Success Criteria

:

Students be able to

use a decision tree to help create the

program

Monday, February 5, 2024

Decision Trees

The diagram below is an example of a decision tree. A decision tree is a way to show how a
machine can ask questions and make decisions.

In this example the questions are
about the qualities of animals. If a
machine is given these questions
and answers, then it can use the
information to make decisions.
The decisions in this example will
help the machine identify animal
who can fly, walk/run and swim.

Multiple Choice

Who Can Fly and has feathers ?

• Lion

• Dolphin

• Falcon

• Penguin

Activity 6:

Grade 6 / CCDI

Title

:

Robotics in Action

Objective

:

Program the actions of a

robot in response to sensory input.

Success Criteria

:

Students be able to

use a decision tree to help create the

program

Monday, February 5, 2024

ambient light sensor,
LED grid,
keyboard,
microcontroller,
servomotor,
wheel

Hint: Think of questions
that will separate the
components from each
other

Complete the decision tree to help a machine identify different components

Grade 6 / CCDI

Title

:

Robotics in Action

Objective

:

Program the actions of a

robot in response to sensory input.

Success Criteria

:

Students be able to

use a decision tree to help create the

program

Monday, February 5, 2024

Programming robot movements

After building a RC car how you will control its movements. What if you want to control the
servo motors installed in it? How will you use and take inputs from different sensors
installed in it? The answer is you will control the movements by creating programs.

Remember a robot is a machine that can sense, compute and act on its own.

Multiple Choice

It is processing ------ >

• ambient light sensor

• LED grid

• wheel

• microcontroller
  

Multiple Choice

It is used in input and found in robot ------>

• servomotor

• microcontroller

• ambient light sensor

• LED

Grade 6 / CCDI

Title

:

Robotics in Action

Objective

:

Program the actions of a

robot in response to sensory input.

Success Criteria

:

Students be able to

use a decision tree to help create the

program

Monday, February 5, 2024

You can create a basic robot movement program for a microcontroller using servomotors.
Here is an example program to control servomotors on a robot.

Activity 7:

Grade 6 / CCDI

Title

:

Robotics in Action

Objective

:

Program the actions of a

robot in response to sensory input.

Success Criteria

:

Students be able to

use a decision tree to help create the

program

Monday, February 5, 2024

Before you start programming, it is important to plan how your program will
work by creating an algorithm.

The basic robot movement program will:
• Set the pins connected to the servomotors.
• Move the robot forwards for 2 seconds.
• Stop the robot.

Create a flowchart algorithm for the basic robot movement program.

Activity 8:

Grade 6 / CCDI

Title

:

Robotics in Action

Objective

:

Program the actions of a

robot in response to sensory input.

Success Criteria

:

Students be able to

use a decision tree to help create the

program

Monday, February 5, 2024

Create the basic robot control program. Then, upload the program to the microcontroller.

The robot servomotor program will:
• Set the pins connected to the servomotors.
• Move the robot forwards for 2 seconds.
• Stop the robot.

Use your algorithm to help create the program.

Challenge

Add more parts to the program to:
• Move the robot left for 2 seconds.
• Move the robot right for 2 seconds.
• Move the robot backwards 2 seconds.

Grade 6 / CCDI

Title

:

Robotics in Action

Objective

:

Program the actions of a

robot in response to sensory input.

Success Criteria

:

Students be able to

use a decision tree to help create the

program

Monday, February 5, 2024

Robot actions to sensory inputs

You have built a RC car; how can you use it? You can use it in three different ways.

Obstacle avoidance robot (your RC car will move and avoid obstacles).

A distance sensor sends and receives signals in the form of infrared (IR) light
waves. These signals are used to tell if objects are nearby without touching them.

Here is an example showing distance sensors on a RC car

Activity 9:

Grade 6 / CCDI

Title

:

Robotics in Action

Objective

:

Program the actions of a

robot in response to sensory input.

Success Criteria

:

Students be able to

use a decision tree to help create the

program

Monday, February 5, 2024

Before you start coding, it is important to plan how your program will work.
The obstacle avoidance robot program will:
• If no obstacle is found.

o light the NeoPixels using a loop
o move the robot forwards.

• Else if obstacle is found left.

o clear the NeoPixels
o move the robot right for 2 seconds.

• Else if obstacle is found right.

o clear the NeoPixels
o move the robot left for 2 seconds.

• Else if obstacle is found forwards.

o clear the NeoPixels
o move the robot backwards left for 2 seconds.

Create a decision tree to show how this program will decide what to do.

Activity 9:

Grade 6 / CCDI

Title

:

Robotics in Action

Objective

:

Program the actions of a

robot in response to sensory input.

Success Criteria

:

Students be able to

use a decision tree to help create the

program

Monday, February 5, 2024

Use the words to fill in the blank spaces.
Create a decision tree to show how this program will decide what to do.

Object detected right?
Light NeoPixels green and

move forwards.

Clear NeoPixels and

move left for 2 seconds.

Clear NeoPixels and move

backwards left for 2 seconds.

Activity 10:

Grade 6 / CCDI

Title

:

Robotics in Action

Objective

:

Program the actions of a

robot in response to sensory input.

Success Criteria

:

Students be able to

use a decision tree to help create the

program

Monday, February 5, 2024

Create the obstacle avoidance robot program. Then, upload the
program to the microcontroller.
The obstacle avoidance program will:
•Set the pins connected to the distance sensors.

•If no obstacle is found.
o light the NeoPixels using a loop
o move the robot forwards.

•Else if obstacle is found left.
o clear the NeoPixels
o move the robot right for 2 seconds.

•Else if obstacle is found right.
o clear the NeoPixels
o move the robot left for 2 seconds.

•Else if obstacle is found forwards.
o clear the NeoPixels
o move the robot backwards left for 2 seconds.

Use your decision tree to help create the program.