makeblockstatic.education.makeblock.com/mechanicalmakercourse.pdf · 2019-03-29 ·...

makeblockMechanical Maker Course

Contents

Lesson 1 Oriental Crown.................................................... 1

Lesson 2 Birdcage (1)....................................................... 11

Lesson 3 Birdcage (2)....................................................... 23

Lesson 4 Stone Mill.......................................................... 29

Lesson 5 Toy Car..............................................................36

Lesson 6 Movie Projector................................................. 44

Lesson 7 Clock..................................................................56

Lesson 8 Lifting Platform................................................. 66

Lesson 9 Windmill............................................................74

Lesson 10 Automatic Windows (1).................................. 88

Lesson 11 Automatic Windows (2).................................. 97

Lesson 12 Vacuum Cleaner............................................ 107

Lesson 13 Self-driving Car (1)....................................... 116



1

Lesson 1Oriental Crown

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Mechanical Maker Course

01

Knowledge and Skills

1. Preliminarily understand the classification, function, and naming of structural parts and screws in the Makeblock MakerSpace Kit parts.2. Know how to connect structural parts and fix screws.3. Understand the structural characteristics of the Oriental Crown; learn representative structures of traditional Chinese buildings.

Process and Methods

1. Cooperate and build the Oriental Crown model following the Construction Manual.2. Know how to use screwdrivers, wrenches, and other tools to reinforce or connect structural parts.3. Understand the structural characteristics of traditional Chinese buildings; able to apply the knowledge to design and construction of models.

Attitudes and Values

1. Learn traditional Chinese architectural culture as reflected in the Oriental Crown.2. Improve students' hands-on skills, imagination, and creativity.

02

Oriental Crown

Teaching Objectives

Lead-in

3

Lesson 1 Oriental Crown Architectural Structure

Xiao MIng's architect uncle seemed to have been racking his brains about something lately and was heard sighing at home from time to time. One day, Xiao Ming, both worried and curious, could not restrain himself any longer and went to ask his uncle why. It turned out that the company Xiao Ming's uncle worked for had asked Xiao Ming's uncle to design a building. This could have been a piece of cake for Xiao Ming's uncle because he is an excellent architect and has produced many outstanding designs. But things were different this time. The company asked Xiao Ming's uncle to design a Chinese-style building. As someone used to designing European- and American-style buildings, Xiao Ming's uncle had really been scratching his head over the task.

Building with a Chinese style? Xiao Ming immediately thought of the Oriental Crown that he had visited before. Although he only got to view it from a distance at that time, Xiao Ming was immediately captivated by its magnificence. The teacher said that the Oriental Crown is typical of Chinese architecture. Xiao Ming thought, if I build a model of it, my uncle may get some inspiration from its Chinese elements for his design. Xiao Ming felt happy at the thought and then frowned and sighed. How am I supposed to build a model of the Oriental Crown? Xiao Ming was lost in thought.

03

DIY—Build the Oriental Crown

Structural Analysis

The Oriental Crown has no obvious detachable structures.

Material Preparation

Follow the instructions in the Construction Manual to prepare materials needed to build the Oriental Crown model.

Construction

Students in each group work together to build the Oriental Crown model through a reasonable division of labor. Tip: Follow the instructions for the safe use of tools.

Oriental Crown Model

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Mechanical Maker Course Lesson 1 Oriental Crown Architectural Structure

04

Parts Introduction—Structural Parts

Makeblock's structural parts can be divided into two categories: Beam0808 and Beam0824. Made of aluminum alloy, these beams look beautiful and have excellent texture. More importantly, they make solid and firmly connected models. Structural parts vary in length from 16mm to 192mm and in the number of holes from one to twelve. The Beam0808 040B is special in that it has the same number of holes as the Beam0808-072, but it is 40mm long while the latter is 72mm long. Make sure you do not mix them up when building the model.

Beam0824 Beam0808

Structural parts are used to build the frame, base, and rail bracket of a mechanical model. A Beam0808 can be connected to other components through through-holes on the beam and the threaded groove in the middle. In addition to through-holes and the threaded groove, a Beam0824 also has threaded holes on the two end sides for connecting with other components.

Diverse Connection Modes

Structural parts are the basic components for us to build models. In most cases, they are the main components.

05

Serving as the China Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, the Oriental Crown features the typical Chinese dougong structure (or a system of brackets inserted between the top of a pillar and a crossbeam). As a landmark building of the Shanghai World Expo, the China Pavilion has been permanently preserved in the core area of the Expo in Pudong.

Oriental Crown and Traditional Chinese Architectural Structures

5


Oriental Crown

Chinese Elements in Appearance

Crown of the Emperor

The China Pavilion's iconic crown shape is a modern expression of traditional Chinese buildings' beam-pillar structure. In ancient times, a hat with such characteristics was a symbol of people's status. The China Pavilion is designed on the theme of an oriental crown that signals the material and spiritual wealth of China and its people.

Harmony between Heaven and Earth

In the China Pavilion, the overall layout of the Chinese National Pavilion and the Chinese Provinces Pavilion implies that the harmony between Heaven and Earth makes all things thrive. It reflects the understanding of the relationship between Heaven and Earth in Oriental philosophy. The National Pavilion—the "Heaven"—towers high like a magnificent crown, whereas the Provinces Pavilion—the "Earth"—serves as the underlying pedestal. As a whole, they signify that the entire Chinese nation is blessed to be prosperous.

Unique Architectural Structures

The China Pavilion's magnificent dougong-style crown embodies the cultural elements of traditional Chinese buildings. The Oriental Crown derived its ingenious design from the traditional Chinese wooden structures where dougong and mortise-and-tenon joints are interspersed and stacked layer upon layer. At the same time, the traditional curves were straightened out, and the outward-extending multi-layered body shows the beauty of strength and structure of modern engineering technology. These simplified decorative lines serve as a natural contemporary expression of features of traditional Chinese buildings.

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Dougong

Dougong, also known as douke, bolu, puzuo and so on, is a unique structure of Chinese buildings. The arch-shaped load-bearing structure made at the junction of the pillar and crossbeam layer by layer is called the gong, while the square blocks between the gongs are called dou, thus collectively dougong. It is the transition part between the pillar and the roof of a larger building. The function of dougong is to bear the outward-extending eaves above, transferring their weight directly to pillars or indirectly first to architraves and then to pillars. Generally, the dougong structure is reserved for important or memorial buildings.

Unique in aesthetics and in structure, Dougong gives people a mysterious yet wonderful feeling. From the perspective of art or technology, dougong is typically Chinese enough to symbolize and represent the spirit and style of Chinese classical buildings.

Application of the dougong Structure

Tailiang (or lifting beams)

Tailiang, also known as overlapping beams, is the representative of traditional Chinese wooden-structure buildings. Literally, it means to place beams on pillars and then beams on beams. Layers of beams, gradually shortened layer by layer, are set up on pillars along the depth direction of a house. Short wooden pillars or blocks are interposed between the layers. Small pillars or triangular supports are placed at the center of the uppermost beam to form a triangular roof truss. The tailiang structure is widely used in palaces, temples, and other large buildings, especially Royal buildings.

Application of the tailiang Structure

7


Mortise and Tenon

The mortise-and-tenon joint is the main structural mode of ancient Chinese buildings, furniture, and other instruments. It connects two components by making concave and convex parts on them. The concave part is called mortise (or mortise eye, mortise groove) and the convex part is called tenon (or tenon head).The joint is characterized by the non-use of nails on components. The use of mortise and tenon to reinforce objects reflects ancient Chinese culture and wisdom.

Application of Mortise and Tenon

Eaves

The most prominent architectural feature of ancient Chinese buildings is their unique large, curved roofs. Since the eaves on all sides of the roof are higher at the ends than in the center, it forms a slim curve and becomes a very charming and expressive part of the building.

The eaves can be divided into single eaves, double eaves, and triple eaves according to the number of eaves of a building. Multiple eaves can beautify the facade of a building. They can also reduce the impact of drainage from the eaves of a high building on its base because when it rains, drips of rainwater must pass through more than one eaves before they can hit the ground. So for a triple-eaves building, the rainwater has to drip three times before reaching the ground.

Application of Triple Eaves

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Questions

Can you name other Chinese-style buildings in your life?

06

Extension—Design and Build a New China Pavilion

After collecting a lot of information about the structures of traditional Chinese buildings, Xiao Ming's

uncle finally got the inspirations for his "China Pavilion." How about you, my clever little friends? What

are your versions of the China Pavilion? Let's design together with Xiao Ming's uncle.

Solution Design

Subject Design and build the China Pavilion in your mind

Materials probably needed

Design a solution (describe the solution as

clearly as possible in words or drawings).

1. Name of your China Pavilion and its source

2. What is the shape of your China Pavilion? Please make a line drawing of it.

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Solution Implementation

1. Use appropriate parts and tools to build a new China Pavilion.

Tip: Follow the instructions for the safe use of tools.

2. Build a new China Pavilion according to the solution. Propose new solutions if new problems arise.

New problems:

Solutions:

3. Optimize the structure based on the new solutions and complete building your group's China Pavilion.

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Evaluation

Performance Activity Knowledge points Solution design Model

Reasonable division of laborGood teamworkGood communication

ActiveDexterous

Familiar with the use of structural parts

Design and build a new beautiful China Pavilion

Solid structureBeautiful

Functions wellMeets the requirements

Self-evaluation

Evaluation by the group

leader

Evaluation by the teacher

Score

Total score

Scoring standards: exceptional, 5 points; excellent, 4 points; average, 3 points; mediocre, 2 points; poor, 1 point.

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After-class Extension

There are many buildings with Chinese characteristics in our lives. Can you name a few and tell us what obvious Chinese elements they have?

Name of the Building

Characteristics

09

Putting Materials in Order

Disassemble the Oriental Crown models; check, put in order, and reset the materials.

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Lesson 2Birdcage (1)

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Mechanical Maker CourseMechanical Maker Course Lesson 1 Oriental Crown Architectural Structure


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01


1. Learn the concepts of rigid connection and hinged connection and their applications.2. Learn about the use of drive parts—shafts and connectors.

Process and Methods

1. Master the concepts of rigid connection and hinged connection; able to identify the connection mode of structural parts.2. Use a shaft to design and build a hinged birdcage door.


1. Develop students' awareness of protecting animals.2. Improve students' design thinking and their ability to flexibly apply their knowledge.

02

Every morning, Xiao Ming woke up amid the beautiful songs of a bird. The songs were much more pleasant to his ears than the sound of an alarm clock, so Xiao Ming could always happily usher in a new day. It turned out that Xiao Ming's grandpa raised a beautiful thrush. The thrush added a lot of fun to Xiao Ming's family and has become an indispensable member of it. However, Xiao Ming's grandpa was a little upset recently. The thrush's cage has been used for a long time and is too shabby to afford the thrush a comfortable life in it. Grandpa has been thinking about building a new cage for his thrush.

Xiao Ming pitched in to help his grandpa make the new birdcage. Let's help Xiao Ming then.

Grandpa's Thrush

Teaching Objectives

Lead-in

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Mechanical Maker Course Lesson 2 Birdcage (1)Constructi

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DIY—Build a Birdcage

Structural Analysis

A bird cage can be divided into two parts: the cage top and the cage body.

Bird Cage Model Structure


Follow the instructions in the Construction Manual to prepare the materials needed to build a birdcage (not including the door).

Construction

Students in each group work together to build a bird cage through a reasonable division of labor.

Steps: Set up the bottom and top components of the birdcageInstall the birdcage frameInstall the birdcage top


Bird Cage Model Structure

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The Makeblock connector kit contains right-angle, U-shaped, P-shaped, circular, and triangular connectors, and connectors in other forms. Using holes on a bracket, brackets can be used together with beams to build a model frame, or with bearings to build the shafting base and motor's support base. Makeblock's rich types of connectors make construction of complex mechanical structures possible. Users can use different connectors according to their needs to realize various creative structural designs.

Connector Kit

How to use Plate 45°

This connecting piece, designed at 135 degrees with M4 mounting holes 8mm apart, is for connecting mechanical parts at 45-degree or 135-degree angles. Highly compatible and beautiful, the connector is mostly used to connect single-hole or Beam0824. Plate 45°should be used preferably when building a structure with a certain inclination or angle.

Connecting Plate 45° Use of Connecting Plate 45°

05

Rigid and Hinged Connections

In the process of building the birdcage, you used a lot of structural parts, such as single-hole and Beam0824, and many connectors to connect these parts into a complete model. You also learned many different modes of connection, such as the connection between structural parts and the connection between screws and structural parts.These connection modes can be roughly divided into two categories: rigid connections and hinged connections. Screws may be used for hinged connection.

Parts Introduction—Connector Kit

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Lesson 2 Birdcage (1)Constructi

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The Concept and Application of Rigid Connections

1. Rigid connections refer to connections where the connected structural parts can neither move nor rotate in relation to each other at the joint.

2. Application cases: the connection between beams and pillars of a house, between ladder parts, and between a table top and table legs.

Ladder Table

The Concept and Application of Hinged Connections

Hinged connections refer to connections where the structural parts cannot move but can rotate in relation to each other at the joint. Application cases: folding umbrella ribs, the connection between screws and nuts, etc.

Umbrella Ribs Screws and Nuts

Classical Rigid Connections

Rigid connections: mortise-and-tenon joints, riveting, welding, etc.

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Mortise-and-Tenon Joints

Mortise-and-Tenon joints refer to the joint mode of inserting a tenon head, or tongue, into a mortise eye or mortise groove. It is the basic joint mode of Chinese classical and modern furniture, and also is the main joint mode of modern frame furniture. The mortise-and-tenon joint is realized by first making a tenon head, or tongue, on one piece of the material and a mortise eye on the other, and then inserting the tenon head into the mortise eye, thus fixating the two pieces of materials by exploiting the frictional force between them.

Mortise-and-tenon Joint-1 Mortise-and-tenon Joint-2

Riveting

The mode of using plastic rivets to joint two or more pieces into a non-detachable whole is called a riveting connection, or riveting for short.

Riveting-1 Riveting-2

You can try to use plastic rivets to fix structural parts and feel the convenience of riveting.

R4100 plastic rivet (white nylon)

Welding

Welding, also known as fusion welding, is a manufacturing process and technology for joining metal or other thermoplastic materials, such as plastics, by means of heating, high temperature, or high pressure.

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Welding-1 Welding-2

Classical Hinged Connections

Hinged connections: hinge connection, bearing connection, pin connection, etc.

Hinge

A hinge, often composed of two foldable parts, is a connector that connects two parts of an object and allows them to rotate around its axis. Ordinary hinges are used in cabinet doors, windows, doors, etc.

Hinge -1 Hinge -2

Bearings

Bearings are an important part of modern mechanical equipment. Their main function is to support the rotating mechanical body, reduce the friction coefficient during its movement, and ensure its rotating accuracy.

Bearing-1 Bearing-2

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Exercises

Observe the structures in the following figures and analyze which connection mode is used.

Application Cases Connection Mode (the more specific the better)

Beams and Pillars

Puppets

Steel Cable Bridge

Bicycle Wheels

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Questions

Can you give more application cases of rigid and hinged connections in your life?

06

Evaluation



ActiveDexterous

Know the differences between rigid connection and hinged connection

Able to clearly describe and implement the design of the birdcage door



Self-evaluation

Evaluation by the group leader


Score

Total score


The new birdcage has begun to take shape as we have built the main structure of it. With success looming

on the horizon, Xiao Ming and Grandpa are all smiles. Let's keep up the good work. We will install the

cage door in the next lesson. The thrush will then have a comfortable new home.

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07


Thrushes mainly inhabit the mountains and forests

south of the Yangtze River. Male thrushes can sing

nicely and loudly during the breeding season. As the

warble ends somehow like "mo-gi-yiu-", people in

ancient times liked to interpret it as "ru-yi-ru-yi (as

you wish)." Because thrushes can sing pleasantly and

auspiciously, people have gradually developed a

fondness for raising thrushes as a pastime activity.

Thrushes can be simply divided into wild thrushes and

pet thrushes. Most pet thrushes are raised as

ornamental birds. Wild thrushes have been listed on

the International Union for Conservation of Nature

(IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species 2013 Ver

3.1—Least Concern (LC). It forbids the hunting of

wild thrushes.

Wild Thrush

China has been raising ornamental birds for about 3,000 years. Nowadays, raising birds has become part

of people's spare-time activities. Urban residents see buildings, factories, and roads and hear the noses of

machines and cars all day long. They have little chance to be close to the beauty of nature, especially the

colorful feathers of birds and rhymes of nature. Birds bring beauty of nature and add joy and liveliness to

life. They enrich people's spiritual life and prolong their physical life.

08


Keep the birdcage models for use in the next lesson; check, put in order, and reset the remaining materials.

09

Reference Answers

Key Knowledge Points

Concept Definition

Rigid connections Rigid connections refer to connections where the connected structural parts can neither move nor rotate in relation to each other at the joint.

Hinged connections

Hinged connections refer to connections where the structural parts cannot move but can rotate in relation to each other at the joint.

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Knowledge Application

Observe the structures in the following figures and analyze which connection mode is used.

Application Cases Connection Mode (the more specific the better)

Rigid connection (mortise-and-tenon joint)

Beams and Pillars

Rigid connection (riveting) and hinged connection

Puppets

Rigid connection (welding)

Steel Cable Bridge

Rigid connection (welding) and hinged connection (bearing)

Bicycle Wheels

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2. List five cases of rigid connections and hinged connections in life.

Rigid connections: desk, roof beams, iron fences, bicycle frames, bookshelf, steel cable bridge, etc.

Hinged connections: umbrella, door, chair, wheel, bottle, swinging door, etc.

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Lesson 3Birdcage (2)

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1. Learn the concepts of rigid connections and hinged connections and their applications.2. Learn how to use a drive part—shaft

Process and Methods

1. Master the concepts of rigid connection and hinged connection; able to identify the connection mode of structural parts.2. Use a shaft to design and build a hinged birdcage door.


1. Develop students' awareness of protecting animals.2. Improve students' design thinking and their ability to flexibly apply their knowledge.

02

We have helped Xiao Ming build the birdcage's frame, but the cage door has not yet been installed. Let's move on and install the door in this lesson, so that the thrush can have a comfortable new home.

03

DIY—Install the Cage Door


Follow the instructions in the Construction Manual to prepare the materials needed to build the birdcage door.

Construction

Build the birdcage door following the Construction Manual. Cage Door

Teaching Objectives

Lead-in

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Mechanical Maker Course Lesson 3 Birdcage (2) Structural Design

Parts Introduction—Shaft

A shaft is a cylindrical, or square in some cases, rod-like object at the center of bearings, wheels, or gears. It is a mechanical part that supports the rotating parts and rotates with them to transfer the driving force. Generally, it is a metal rod, and different segments of the rod may have different diameters. The rotating parts of a machine are mounted on the shaft.When you need to build a rotating structure, you can consider using shafts for hinged connections.

How to Use a Shaft and Shaft Sleeve

Materials: a D shaft, a small HEX Allen key, and a headless screw

Steps Operation Demonstrative Figures

1Prepare materials: 1ⅹD shaft 4mm,

1ⅹBush 4mm, 1ⅹsmall HEX Allen

key, 1ⅹheadless screw M3ⅹ5

2 Put the shaft collar on the shaft from one end of the D linear motion shaft.

3 Insert the headless screw into the through-hole on the shaft collar.

4

Tighten the headless screw with a small HEX Allen key. Be sure to align the screw hole with the cut face of the D linear motion shaft.

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Mechanical Maker CourseMechanical Maker Course Lesson 3 Birdcage (2) Structural Design

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Xiao Ming was very happy that the cage had been built. But he found that the screw to fix the cage door will come loose with use, causing the door to not close. He hoped to improve the cage door to avoid this problem. Please work out a solution to the problem and make a new cage door.Tip: Shafts can be used not only as rotating shafts in hinged connection structures, but also as structural parts in rigid connection structures.

Solution Design

Subject Redesign a cage door

Technical requirements The door should have a solid structure and be able to open and close smoothly.


1. Connection of the door frame to the cage body

2. Mounting position of the shaft

Design a solution (describe the solution as clearly as possible

in words or drawings).


Use appropriate parts and tools to build the birdcage door based on the solution.


Extension—Design and Build a Cage Door

27

Lesson 3 Birdcage (2) Structural Design

Install the door and check whether it can work properly. Propose new solutions if new problems arise.

New problems:

Solutions:

Optimize the birdcage structure based on the new solutions and complete building the birdcage.

06

Evaluation



ActiveDexterous

Know the differences between rigid connection and hinged connection

Able to clearly describe and implement the design of the birdcage door



Self-evaluation


leader


Score

Total score


The birdcage has finally been built. The thrush has a new home now. Thank you for your help! We hope that Xiao Ming's family can live in harmony with the thrush and that the thrush's beautiful songs will accompany each and every day of Xiao Ming's life.


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07


Birds may fail to return home because they are injured, or because they have no home to which to return as deforestation has destroyed their habitats. However, excessive deforestation by human beings is not the sole reason for the destruction of forests. Do some research and find out other reasons for the destruction of forests and measures to protect forests.

Reasons for Forest Destruction Measures to Protect Forests

08


Disassemble the birdcage model; check, put in order, and reset the materials.

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Lesson 4Stone Mill

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1. Learn how to use universal joint parts.2. Learn concepts and applications of levers and universal joints.

Process and Methods

1. Learn to reasonably use labor-saving levers, labor-intensive levers, and equal-arm levers.2. Reasonably design a universal joint's rotation direction to make the stone mill work well.


1. Experience/understand the application of leverage in production tools and in life.2. Improve hands-on skills; able to change the stone mill model's structure to meet different needs.

02

Xiao Ming's family visited Xiao Ming's grandma in the countryside. As their car moved slowly on the road, Xiao Ming looked around and saw corn, rice, and potatoes planted here and there in the field. Big apples hung heavy on the trees. It is going to be another bumper year. Xiao Ming and his folks were lost in the beautiful village scenery, and without their realizing it, they arrived at grandma's house. Xiao Ming's grandma greeted them outside the door and was overjoyed to see them.

At his grandma's house, Xiao Ming saw all kinds of farm tools, such as hoes, sickles, and so on. He was especially interested in the big stone at his grandma's door, but did not know what it was for. He went and asked his grandma. "This is a stone mill. Usually I use it to grind soybeans, corn, and so on. Too bad it is broken," grandma said. Xiao Ming walked around the stone mill and touched it here and there, wondering if he could build a new stone mill for grandma.

Let's do something to help.

Teaching Objectives

Lead-in

Stone Mill

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Mechanical Maker Course Lesson 4 Stone Mill Application of Levers

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DIY—Stone Mill

Structural Analysis

A stone mill is composed of a millstone and a chassis.

Stone Mill Model Structure


Follow the instructions in the Construction Manual to prepare the materials needed to build a stone mill.

Construction

Students in each group work together to set up the stone mill's chassis and millstone through a reasonable division of labor.

Steps: Set up the millstoneSet up the chassisConnect the millstone and chassis


Stone Mill Model

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Parts Introduction—Bearings

Makeblock's bearing parts include flange bearings, ball bearings, and rod-end bearings of different sizes, among which flange bearings and ball bearings are most widely used. Bearings can be used in combination with different timing pulleys and connecting brackets to support the rotating structure.

Bearings have two major functions: one is to fixate the supporting shaft so that it can rotate but cannot make axial and radial movements; the other is to lubricate and reduce rotating parts' friction coefficient to almost zero. Flange Bearing

Questions

Can you give examples of other bearing applications in life?

05

Leverage

In the past, people used stone mills to grind soybeans and rice into powders, which were then made into delicious tofu and ciba (glutinous rice cakes). Because it was hard to directly push the millstone, people added a long handle to it. By pushing the handle to drive the heavy millstone, they saved energy and improved the production efficiency. This improvement is an example of leverage application. What is leverage then?

Lever is a simple mechanism. By definition, a lever is a hard rod (straight or curved) that rotates around a fixed point.

It has five elements: fulcrum, driving force, resistance, power arm, and resistance arm. In the figure, Point O is the fulcrum; F1 and F2 are driving force and resistance; L1 and L2 are power arm and resistance arm.

Force Diagram of a Lever

Lesson 4 Stone Mill Application of Levers

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A system that has the following three points is basically a lever: a fulcrum, a force-applying point, and a force-bearing point.

Basic Lever

Types of Lever

Levers can be divided into labor-saving levers, labor-intensive levers, and equal-arm levers. There is no lever that saves both distance and labor.

Labor-saving lever: The power arm is longer than the resistance arm, which saves labor at the expense of distance. Applications: crowbar, trolley, floral scissors, etc.

Labor-intensive lever: The power arm is shorter than the resistance arm, which makes a lever laborious but saves distance. Applications: lifting arm, fishing rod, haircut scissors, etc.

Application of Labor-saving Levers Application of Labor-intensive Levers

Leverage

When Greek scientist Archimedes said, "Give me a place to stand on, and I will move the Earth," he was referring to leverage.

Leverage: The distance from the fulcrum is inversely proportional to the weight when two weights are balanced.


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Extension—Explore Leverage

We add a long handle to the millstone to push it more conveniently yet less laboriously. Handles of different lengths have different labor-saving effects. Let us change the handle length and see how it will impact the driving force.

Solution Design

Subject Explore the relationship between the handle length and the driving force on the stone mill.




1. Length of handle

2. Mounting position of handle


Use structural parts of different lengths to change the length of the stone mill's handle, and record the corresponding value of the driving force, to determine the relationship between the handle length and the driving force.

Times of improvements Length of Handle Driving Force Your Findings

1 Very smallVery big Small Average Big





Lesson 4 Stone Mill Application of Levers

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Evaluation



ActiveDexterous

Know how to use bearings

Seriously studied the gear transmission ratio and discovered the law



Self-evaluation


leader


Score

Total score


08


Disassemble the stone mill models; check, put in order, and reset the materials.

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Lesson 5Toy Car

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Lesson 5 Toy Car Transmission Mechanism

01


1. Master the principle and application of a universal joint.2. Know how to use a shaft clamping hub.

Process and Methods

1. Know how to build a universal joint; learn how to use universal joints to make an automobile steering wheel.2. Build a toy car model following the Construction Manual.


Improve hands-on skills; able to build complex structures.

02

Xiao Ming has been a little upset lately. His next-door friend Xiao Ke is going to celebrate his birthday and he wants to have a cool toy car for his birthday gift. Xiao Ming decided to help Xiao Ke realize his wish.

At first, Xiao Ming planned to buy Xiao Ke a toy car at the Toy Town. He went to the Toy Town, carefully selected the gift, and then found that he did not have enough pocket money to pay for it. What can be another way out? Xiao Ming felt a little anxious. Why don't I just make a toy car myself? Xiao Ming asks himself in a flash of inspiration. I have made so many models and so a toy car shouldn't be that hard for me. Xiao Ming believes Xiao Ke will love the toy car he is going to make for him.

Toy Car

Teaching Objectives

Lead-in

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DIY—Build a Toy Car

Structural Analysis

A toy car is made up of front wheels, rear wheels, a central frame, and a steering wheel.

Toy Car Model Structure


Follow the instructions in the Construction Manual to prepare the materials needed to build a toy car.

Construction

Students in each team work together to build a toy car through a reasonable division of labor.

Steps: Set up front wheelsSet up rear wheelsSet up the central frameSet up the steering wheelAssemble various parts


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Lesson 5 Toy Car Transmission MechanismMechanical Maker Course

Toy Car Model

Parts Introduction—Universal Joint and Shaft Clamping Hub

Universal Joint

In building the stone mill model, you used a universal joint, and have become familiar with its use and functions. So what specific functions does a universal joint have and what role does it play in our daily lives?

Universal Joint

A universal joint (or universal coupling) is an important tool for achieving variable-angle power transmission. The joint consists of a pair of ordinary hinges with a relative orientation of 90 degrees, so that the lever can be turned in any direction.

A car needs a steering wheel to change its trajectory of movement and still ensure that power can be transmitted to the wheels. It is necessary to add a universal joint to meet the requirements and enable a car to achieve power output in different directions.

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Steering System

Shaft Clamping Hub

The 8mm Shaft Clamping Hub is used to secure 8mm or 4mm linear motion shaft. It has nine holes on the front side: three for mounting, four for support of the shaft, and the remaining two threaded holes for fixating. Of the three holes on its sides, two are used to connect other structural parts and the one threaded hole is for driving in an M4ⅹ22 screw from the other side to fixate the shaft.

Shaft Clamping Hub

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Extension—Transmission of the Universal Joint

Universal joint can be used individually or collectively. Compared to a universal joint used individually, what kind of transmission can universal joints used collectively achieve? Now get a move on! Make a new universal joint, install it onto the toy car, and control the movement of the toy car through the universal joint to explore the mystery of universal joint transmission. In addition, interested students can use other Makeblock parts to make a different universal joint.

When exploring universal joint transmission, we should focus on the transmission angle, reliability (whether it is stable and firm), efficiency (whether the steering wheel can easily drive the wheels), and other issues.

Diverse Universal Joints

Solution Design

Subject Make a universal joint with a different structure


Possible influence factors

Design an exploration scheme (describe the scheme as clearly as possible in words or

drawings).

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Study universal joint transmission by first changing the universal joint structure and then changing the structure of the toy car's steering wheel.

Solution Transmission angle Reliability Efficiency

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06

Evaluation



ActiveDexterous

Seriously studied the gear transmission ratio and discovered the law

Considered as many possible influence factors as possible and worked out a solution for each of them



Self-evaluation


leader


Score

Total score


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Disassemble the toy car models; check, put in order, and reset the materials.

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Lesson 6Movie Projector

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Lesson 6 Movie Projector Timing Belt Transmission

01


1. Be familiar with different timing pulleys and timing belts.2. Know how to connect timing pulley slices to a timing pulley.3. Learn how a movie projector works.

Process and Methods

1. Use the timing pulley, timing belt, and shaft connector to build the basic frame of a movie projector.2. Study the factors affecting the transmission speed by controlling the variables.


1. Improve ability for self-exploration.2. Think about the role of technology in improving the quality of life.

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One day after school, Xiao Ming went to the movies with his classmates. After watching the movie, Xiao Hua and Xiao Gang argued fiercely about how a movie is played at cinemas. Xiao Hua believed that it is similar to how a movie is played on flat-screen TVs at home. You just hit "Play" and the pictures will emerge directly from the screen or the TV panel. However, Xiao Gang insisted that the pictures are projected onto the screen by a movie projector. Seeing that they could not convince each other, Xiao Ming broke them up and told Xiao Hua that the pictures really came out of a movie projector. Xiao Hua still refused to believe it."I won't believe it unless you can show me."

Movie Projector

Teaching Objectives

Lead-in

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DIY—Build a Movie Projector

Structural Analysis

A movie projector is made up of two major parts: the main body and reels.

Movie Projector Model Structure


Follow the instructions in the Construction Manual to prepare the materials needed to build a projector (main body and reels).

Construction

Students in each group work together to build a movie protector through a reasonable division of labor.

Steps: Set up the main bodySet up reelsAssemble various parts


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Lesson 6 Movie Projector Timing Belt TransmissionMechanical Maker Course

Movie Projector Model

Parts Introduction—Drive Parts: Timing Pulleys and Belts

A timing pulley is a wheel-shaped shaft-centered object. A timing pulley without slices is similar to a gear but for its denser and smaller teeth. Be sure not to mix them up in use. Timing Pulleys 18T and 32T have a center diameter of 4mm. Timing Pulleys 62T and 90T have a center diameter of 8mm. Use corresponding bearings or shaft connectors when mounting 4mm D shafts or linear motion shafts into the pulleys.

Timing Pulley 90T Plastic Timing Pulley 90T

Timing Pulley 62T Timing Pulley 32T

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A timing belt is a ring belt with equidistant teeth on the inner surface. In Makeblock's parts library, there are seven types of timing belts of different lengths: 123T(98MXL), 216T(173MXL), 378T(302MXL), 140T(112MXL), 160T(128MXL), 1012T(810MXL), and Timing Belt (5m), Open-end. A transmission system consisting of timing belts and timing pulleys provides high-precision linear transmission with different lengths.

Timing Belt

Notes on installing and using timing belts and pulleys: reduce the center distance. If there is a tension pulley, loosen it first and adjust the center distance after installing the belt. For a transmission system with a fixed center distance, take down the timing pulley first, install the belt on the pulley, and then fixate the pulley on the shaft.

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Timing Belt Transmission and Movie Projector

Concept

The timing belt transmission mechanism is composed of a ring belt with equidistant teeth on its inner surface and matching pulleys. It combines the advantages of belt transmission, chain transmission, and gear transmission. When rotating, the power is transmitted by meshing the teeth of the timing belt with the tooth sockets of the pulleys.

Timing Belt

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Concept

The timing belt transmission mechanism features an accurate transmission ratio, no slippage, fixed speed, stable transmission, vibration absorption, and low noise. It allows a speed of up to 50 meters per second and has a high transmission efficiency of 98%. It has a compact structure and is suitable for multi-shaft transmission. It needs no lubrication and produces no pollution. Timing belts are widely used in various types of mechanical transmissions in various industries, such as textiles, machine tools, tobacco, communication cables, light industry, chemical industry, metallurgy, instrumentation, food, mining, petroleum, and automobiles.

In harsh working conditions with dust, water, and corrosive media, chains rust and wear easily and gears may slip, while timing belt transmission can adapt to these conditions. Since timing belt transmission is meshing transmission, it does not slip in the presence of rainwater. Instead, water, as a good lubricant for rubber, can reduce belt wear. In the presence of dust, the belt teeth will squeeze the air left in the sockets when they enter the sockets, so that the compressed air will be discharged to both sides of the sockets. This kind of air extrusion will help clean the meshing surface and take away the dust, thus reducing the wear of the timing belt. In addition, timing belts have high corrosion resistance and heat resistance, and can work normally under high temperature and corrosive gas conditions.

Timing Belt Transmission

Movie projector is a device that can continuously drag a film along a track so that each frame of the film can stay in front of the light source for a short time. The light source provides very strong illumination, projecting images on the film onto the screen through the lens.

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Movie Projector

Movie Projection

Composition

1. Reel components (arch column, feed sprocket, gripper, motor, and feed reel)2. Light components (bulb, condenser, fan, and mirror)3. Lens components (lens, aperture door, and shade)4. Audio components (optical and digital reading devices and infrared LEDs)

Movie Projector Structure

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Principle

The principle of motion pictures has a relationship with the psychological process of humans and the mechanical action of an intermittent motion mechanism. The intermittent motion mechanism takes pictures of a subject's action in a continuous manner and then shows the pictures in rapid succession through a projector. Because the subject is constantly changing its spatial position and because of people's psychological perception, the subject becomes "alive" on the screen.

Intermittent motion is related to humans' visual persistence, which refers to the physiological phenomenon that human vision retains the object image (i.e., the slowly disappearing image) for 1/30 to 1/5 seconds when the object suddenly disappears.

Because of the intermittent movement of the pictures and humans' visual persistence, viewers will feel that the pictures move continuously without interruption, although they can still feel the flashing of light on the screen.

06The main principle of a movie projector is that the film stays in front of a light source for a short time and the projector projects the film's images onto a screen. The projector we are building is actually relatively slow in speed. So how can we increase the transmission speed of the projector and what are the factors that affect the transmission speed？

Solution Design

Subject Factors affecting the transmission speed


Extension—Explore Factors Affecting the Transmission Speed

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Design an exploring scheme (describe the scheme as


1. Does a timing pulley's size affect the speed?

2. Does a timing belt's length affect the speed?

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Verify your guesses by changing a timing pulley's size or a timing belt's length. Tip: Follow the instructions for the safe use of tools.

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Influence factors

One side of the handle

Timing pulley 1 62T

Timing pulley 2 62T

Timing belt 1 160T

The other side of the handle

Timing pulley 3 62T

Timing pulley 4 90T

Timing pulley 5 90T

Timing belt 2 378T

Speed comparison (faster or slower)

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Activedexterous

Familiar with the use of the timing belt transmission

Able to identify factors affecting the transmission speed



Self-evaluation


leader


Score

Total score


08The Origin of Movies

In 1829, the famous Belgian physicist Joseph Antoine Ferdinand Plateau discovered that when an object disappears in front of a person's eyes, the image of the object will remain on his/her retina for a short time. This discovery was called "visual persistence."One day in 1872, in a noisy pub in California, a group of people gathered around a table as Cohen and Stanford were quarreling. Stanford believed that when a horse is galloping, all of its four hooves will leave the ground for an instant. Cohen insisted that no matter how fast a horse runs, there is always one hoof on the ground. Neither of them could talk the other around.Eventually, they decided to settle the dispute by watching a real horse galloping. However, the horse ran too fast to be seen clearly whether there was a hoof touching the ground. A photographer named Eadweard J. Muybridge said he had an idea.

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He set up 24 cameras in a row on one side of the runway, with each lens pointing at the runway. On the other side of the runway, he planted 24 stakes, each with a thin line tied to the shutter of a camera on the opposite side. He then let the horse run from one end of the runway to the other. In the process, the horse broke the 24 thin lines in turn, which triggered the shutters of the 24 cameras to take 24 photos. The photographer pieced together these pictures in a sequence and finally found that the horse did always have one hoof on the ground while galloping. Cohen won.Moreover, the photographer also found that by quickly thumbing the photo sequence, the still horse in each photo would become "alive." The prototype for movies emerged.In 1890, the great inventor Thomas Alva Edison invented a slide projector, the film projector's predecessor, after he achieved an uninterrupted visual effect by observing photos continuously. Later, the Lumiére brothers (Auguste and Louis Lumiére) improved Edison's invention and created a movie projector. They shot "The Arrival of a Train", which was the first movie in history.

Photos Taken by Eadweard J. Muybridge

09Disassemble the movie projector models; check, put in order, and reset the materials.


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Lesson 7Clock

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Lesson 7 Clock Gear Transmission

01


1. Learn how to use gear tools.2. Able to distinguish between driving and driven gears.3. Know how the gear transmission ratio affects the rotational speed.

Process and Methods

1. Build a clock model following the Construction Manual through group cooperation.2. Complete the experiment by controlling variables according to the requirements.


Improve the ability for collaborative communication and independent exploration.

02

The clock at Xiao Ming's home was broken. The minute hand stopped running. Xiao Ming decided to fix it by himself. When he took it apart, he found that there were many gears in it and the structure was very complicated. He could not figure out which gear was responsible for the problem. How can he fix it? How about building a simple clock with Makeblock's parts to study the mystery of clocks and locate the problem?

Wall Clock

Teaching Objectives

Lead-in

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DIY—Build a Clock Model

Structural Analysis

A clock is made up of the main body, gears, and a handle.

Clock Model Structure


Follow the instructions in the Construction Manual to prepare the materials needed to build a clock model.

Construction

Students in each team work together to build a clock through a reasonable division of labor.

Steps: Set up and install the clock body and the big gearSet up the small gears and handle

Combination


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Lesson 7 Clock Gear TransmissionMechanical Maker Course

Clock Model

Parts Introduction—Drive Parts: Gears

We mainly use gears to build the clock model. There are gears of three sizes in Makeblock's parts library: Gear 16T, Gear 48T, and Gear 80T, among which Gear 16T can be fixated directly onto a shaft through headless screws. Since gears are similar to timing pulleys in shape, make sure you distinguish between them.

Gear 80T Gear 48T Gear 16T

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Gear Set

Driving and Driven Gears

The clock model is primarily composed of multiple gears. This gear-based transmission is called gear transmission. Gear transmission is a kind of mechanical transmission that transmits power through meshing of the teeth of two or more gears. In a gear transmission system, the gear that drives its mating gears is called a driving gear, and the corresponding gears driven by the driving gear are called driven gears.

Mechanical Watch Structure

Pendulum Interior Structure

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Exercises

Distinguish between driving and driven gears in the gear transmission system of the clock model.

Gear Transmission Gear Category

Gear 2Gear 1

Gear 1

Gear 2

Gear 5

Gear 4

Gear 3

Gear 4

Gear 5

Gear 6

Questions

Can you give other examples of gear transmissions in life?

Gear 3 Gear 6

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Extension—Study the Transmission Ratio of Gear Transmission

When we rotate the clock model's handle, the hour and minute hands move at different speeds. Why? This is because their gear transmission ratios are different.

The gear transmission ratio is equal to the number of teeth of the driven gear divided by the number of teeth of the driving gear. How will different transmission ratios influence the gear transmission?Attach the handle to shafts of different gears, and then rotate it to observe the rotary speeds of the hour and minute hands.

Solution Design

Subject Explore the influence of different transmission ratios on the transmission of gears


Design an exploration scheme (describe the scheme as clearly as possible in words or

drawings).

Lesson 7 Clock Gear Transmission

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Driving Gear Driven Gear Transmission Ratio

When the handle rotates 360 degrees, the driving

gear rotates (A. more than 360 degreesB. less than 360 degrees

C. 360 degrees.)

When the handle rotates 360 degrees, the driving

gear rotates (A. more than 360 degreesB. less than 360 degrees

C. 360 degrees.)

Your findings:


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Evaluation



ActiveDexterous

Know how to use gear tools

Seriously studied the gear transmission ratio issue and discovered the law.



Self-evaluation


leader


Score

Total score


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Disassemble the clock models; check, put in order, and reset the materials.

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Reference Answers

Distinguish between driving and driven gears in the gear transmission system of the clock model.

Gear Transmission Gear Category

Gear 1Gear 2

Gear 1 Driving gear

Gear 2 Driven gear

Gear 3 Driven gear

Gear 5Gear 4 Driven gear

Gear 3 Gear 6

Gear 4 Gear 5 Driving gear

Gear 6 Driving gear

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Lesson 8Lifting Platform

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Lesson 8 Lifting Platform Cuttable Linkage

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01


1. Know how to use various connecting plates.2. Know how to tighten lock nuts.3. Learn about the cuttable linkage in machinery; be able to apply it to model building.

Process and Methods

1. Build a lifting platform model through group cooperation.2. Explore and find out how to stay a lifting platform at a certain height.


Improve hands-on skills for exploration.

02

During a factory visit organized by the school, Xiao Ming really felt the importance of technology to production and life. What impressed him the most were the lifting platforms widely used in the factory. A lifting platform could stretch or contract to raise or lower cargoes smoothly. Curious as to how this mechanical structure could achieve that, Xiao Ming decided to build a lifting platform with Makeblock parts for further study.

Lifting Platform

Teaching Objectives

Lead-in


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DIY—Build a Lifting Platform

Structural Analysis

A lifting platform has no obvious detachable structure.


Follow the instructions in the Construction Manual to prepare the materials needed to build a lifting platform.

Construction

Students in each group work together to build a lifting platform through a reasonable division of labor.

Steps: Set up the chassisSet up the platform bodySet up the platform top


Lifting Platform Model


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04

Parts Introduction—Connectors

Connectors are indispensable in model building. Makeblock has connectors of different shapes, such as right-angle, U-shaped, P-shaped, circular, and triangular connectors, to connect various devices. In the process of building a lifting platform, we will find that connectors make model building more flexible and convenient, and can help build more diverse models if compared to the structural parts for simple direct connections.

Connectors

Among the connectors, there are brackets of different sizes. These brackets can be used together with beams to build the frame of a system, or with bearings to build a shaft foundation and motor support base. When designing and building models, you little creators should think hard and use these connectors flexibly.

Application of Connectors


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Cuttable Linkage

Why can a lifting platform stretch and contract easily? It is because of the cuttable linkage it uses. Cuttable linkage, also known as a low pair mechanism (with surface contact at the rotating point), refers to a mechanism formed by a number of components with certain relative motion through surface contact. The planar four-bar mechanism, which is the simplest planar cuttable linkage made up of four bars, is widely used and is the basis of multi-bar mechanisms.

Lifting platforms use a special planar four-bar mechanism—the parallel quadrilateral cuttable linkage. The four connecting bars of the mechanism have the same length, and the opposite bars are parallel. Using the principle of the instability of a parallelogram, a lifting platform can easily rise and lower.

Parallel Quadrilateral Cuttable Linkage-1 Parallel Quadrilateral Cuttable Linkage-2

Applications of a cuttable linkage can be found everywhere in our lives. Can you name some of them in addition to a lifting platform?

In fact, the mechanism is used in common items such as sliding windows, car doors, folding umbrellas, car windshield wipers, train wheels, and so on.

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Questions

What are other items in life that have used the cuttable linkage?

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Extension—Stay a Lifting Platform at a Certain Height

Through effort, we have built a lifting platform model, but there seems to be something missing. The platform can be folded up easily, but too easily. After it stretches to a height, it will fold up immediately if we give it a downward press. In reality, a lifting platform should be able to bear heavy loads at a height. So how can we realize that by adding some parts?The group that uses the fewest parts and comes up with the most design schemes will be the champion group today.

Solution Design

Subject How to stay a lifting platform at a certain height

Technical requirements Use Makeblock toolkit only


Design a solution (Describe the solution

as clearly as possible in words or drawings.)


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Use appropriate parts and tools to build a lifting platform and enable it to stay at a height. Tip: Follow the instructions for the safe use of tools.

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Evaluation



ActiveDexterous

Understand the characteristics of a cuttable linkage; be familiar with the use of various connectors

Proposed several schemes; able to stay a lifting platform at a height with fewer parts



Self-evaluation


leader


Score

Total score


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Disassemble the lifting platform models; check, put in order, and reset the materials.

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Lesson 9Windmill

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Lesson 9 Windmill Motor Control

01


1. Know how to connect device modules to the Me Auriga.2. Master basic mBlock graphical programming skills.

Process and Methods

1. Use motors to control the rotation of windmill blades.2. Program according to requirements.


1. Enhance the integrative thinking; be able to design simple automation systems.2. Preliminarily develop programming mindset.

02

Xiao Ming spent some time at his grandma's home in the countryside. There, he found many windmills erupted in the field, which has become a beautiful scene in the village. When the blades of the windmills all rotated in the wind, Xiao Ming seemed to have entered a spectacular world of wind.

After returning home, Xiao Ming still could not take his mind away from those windmills. Sometimes he even dreamed that there was a windmill in his home whose blades keep rotating. He woke up knowing that his house could not possibly hold a real windmill. Of course, I can use Makeblock parts to build a smaller one, but how can I make its blades rotate on their own? Xiao Ming was lost in thought.

Windmill

Teaching Objectives

Lead-in

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DIY—Explore a Windmill That Can Generate Electricity

Structural Analysis

A windmill is composed of a base and fan blades.

Windmill Model Structure


Follow the instructions in the Construction Manual to prepare the materials needed to build a windmill.

Construction

Students in each group work together to build a windmill model through a reasonable division of labor.

Steps: Set up the baseMake the fan bladesInstall the fan blades


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Windmill Model

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Parts Introduction—Encoder Motor and Me Encoder Motor Driver

Encoder motors feature precise speed and position control, real-time speed and position feedback, support of mBlock graphical programming, suitability for all ages, and support of precise motion control. With the Me Encoder Motor Driver module, we can control an encoder motor more easily and accurately.

The driver module is designed to control the motor easily, quickly, and accurately. Like a small motor development board, it can precisely control the motor's position, speed, and direction, provide real-time motor position and speed feedback, and offer over-current and anti-reverse protection. It can control up to two encoder motors, and can accurately, and separately, set the speed and position of the two motors.

Encoder Motor Me Encoder Motor Driver

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Wiring Mode

The encoder motor can be directly connected to Ports M1 and M2 on the side of the Me Auriga, as shown in the figure below.

Connecting the Encoder Motor to Makeblock Auriga

Program Control

The encoder motor commands are as follows (taking the Me Auriga as an example):

Program commands Description

Parameter 1: select a 6-pin connector on the Me Auriga.Parameter 2: set the rotary angle.Parameter 3: set the rotary speed.

Parameter 1: select a 6-pin connector on the driver module connected to the Me Auriga.Parameter 2: select the 6-pin connector of the drive module motor. Parameter 3: set the rotary distance.Parameter 4: set the rotary speed.

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About mBlock

The mBlock software is a Scratch-based graphical programming tool for teenagers. It is simple to operate and has specific, visual functions. By dragging and combining programming blocks, mBlock enables us to avoid tedious coding in a real programming environment. With the mBlock tool, we can control Makeblock's electronic devices and realize the functions we need.

mBlock Interface

Device Connection

To control Makeblock's electronic devices through programming in mBlock, first connect them to the Me Auriga. Makeblock has simplified a series of complex operations such as circuit design and welding. Just connect these devices to the Me Auriga with RJ25 cables.

Me Auriga

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RJ25 connection line

Ports on the Me Auriga are colored not just for decoration. The color of a port on the Me Auriga corresponds to the color of the port on an electronic device. For example, the Me Touch Sensor with a blue-colored port should be connected to a blue-colored port on the Me Auriga.

Connecting the Me Touch Sensor to the Me Auriga

Operation Steps

1. Connect the Me Auriga to a computer with a USB cable.

Select "Serial Port" from the Connect menu. The computer will automatically identify as COMx. Then click on "Connect." Once connected, "Connected" will be displayed in the upper left corner of the computer screen.


Selecting Control Board

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Selecting a Serial Port

2. Select the Control BoardOpen mBlock, click on the Board menu and select the type of board you are using, such as Auriga for example.


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3. Install the Arduino Driver

Install the Arduino driver if the Me Auriga is being used for the first time. Select "Install Arduino Driver" from the Connect menu.

Install Firmware

4. Select the Robot Module.

Select "Robot Module" from the Script menu. The blocks of this module correspond directly to device modules in the kit. Drag needed blocks to the programming zone on the right and put them together.

Modify the parameters to design corresponding control programs, and double-click the programs to check how a function is realized.

Programming


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5. Upload a Program.

To upload a program to the Me Auriga, right-click the "Main Program" command. Select "Upload Arduino Program", enter the Arduino mode, and then click on "Upload to Arduino."

Uploading a Program

Programming

Since you are using mBlock graphical programming for the first time, here we will detail the overall control operation. First, open mBlock, and select the corresponding Me Auriga. Then click "Robot Module" in the Script menu, and you are ready to go with the programming.

Programming Page


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To program, we first need a main program, and then put other script commands under the main program in turn like a jigsaw puzzle. When using scripts, drag them directly from the left script command column to the right programming zone.

Then double-click the main program to observe how the motor responds. Did the motor stop after rotating more than two laps? Go on to modify the values of the two parameters and check whether the motor rotates differently. Now as you can see, we can make the motor follow our orders through such a simple program. But what if we want to keep the motor running? Can we continue to use the program above to achieve that?

Actually, we cannot. We need to go on with the programming. Click "Control" in the Script menu, select the "Repeated Execution" command, and drag it into the programming zone to link up with the main program, replacing the motor command (make sure the motor command is included). Double-click the main program and check whether the motor is running continuously.

Note: If you have already burned the program, you cannot use the online mode by double-clicking a statement block. You need to restore the factory program before you can debug a program online.

Operation Demonstration

The "Repeated Execution" command enables the program included to be executed repeatedly. There are many similar commands in the script command column on the left. Interested students may try and use them.

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Extension—Program a Windmill

We have set up the windmill model. But to make it work, we still need to write programs for it. Writing programs, which might have sounded unthinkable yesterday, proves to be not that hard after you have learned the mBlock programming tool. Please design programs according to the requirements.

Solution Design

Subject Design programs to control a windmill

The windmill rotates clockwise for three seconds, stops for one second, rotates counter-clockwise for three seconds, and stops for one second again. Repeat the process.

Program Flow Chart

Requirements

Main program

The motor rotates clockwise for three

seconds

The motor stops for one second

The motor rotates counter-clockwise for

three seconds

The motor stops for one second

End


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Design an inquiry scheme (describe the scheme as clearly as possible in words or

drawings)


1. Try using the mBlock software to complete the program design through group cooperation and discussion.

2. Complete the program design and check whether the windmill blades can rotate as required. Propose new solutions if new problems arise.

New problems

Solutions

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Evaluation



ActiveDexterous

Know how to use the mBlock software and control encoder motors through programming

Described the programming ideas in detail; the program meets the requirements.



Self-evaluation


leader


Score

Total score


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Disassemble the windmill models; check, put in order, and reset the materials.

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Lesson 10Automatic

Windows (1)

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Lesson 10 Automatic Windows (1) Linear Sliders

01


1. Know how to use sliders together with V-slot bearings.2. Learn about the sliders' origin and main applications.

Process and Methods

1. Build an automatic window frame model following the Construction Manual.2. Deduce why aluminum alloy windows in real life are sometimes difficult to open based on the model window.


1. Improve the ability to find and solve problems.2. Develop the ability to use models to solve real-life problems.

02

For Xiao Ming, who has just come in contact with programming, mBlock seemed to have opened the door to a new world. The world of programming is so amazing that by merely clicking some mouse buttons and punching some keys on a computer keyboard, objects in real life will obey your orders. Can this new knowledge bring any convenience to my life? Xiao Ming immediately thought of the windows at his home. Given Xiao Ming’s size, it has been an ordeal just to open and close those windows. It will be much easier if I can make them automatic, so that the windows will open or close automatically with no more than a gentle press on a button. Just do it! thought Xiao Ming.

Aluminum Alloy Window

Teaching Objectives

Lead-in

90


03

DIY—Build a Window Frame

Structural Analysis

No obvious detachable structures


Follow the instructions in the Construction Manual to prepare the materials needed to build a window frame.

Construction

Students in each group work together to build a window frame through a reasonable division of labor.

Steps:

Set up the support and windows

Set up the window frame


Automatic Window Model

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Lesson 10 Automatic Windows (1) Linear SlidersMechanical Maker Course

Parts Introduction—Structural Parts: Sliders and V-slot Bearings

Sliders are commonly used structural parts in mechanical models that require linear motion. A slider has threaded slots in the middle, which enable it to be connected to other components without the use of nuts, and V-slot on both sides, which can help realize the movement of an object on it if used in combination with V-slot bearings.

Slider

V-slot Bearing

04

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05

Railway Track

Sliders are similar to railway tracks in their I-shaped structure. This structure has good bending resistance.

Role of the track:

1. Directly bear the tremendous pressure from train wheels and transmit it to the underlying roadbed, bridge, tunnel, or other structures.

2. Guide the running of locomotives.

3. Compared to ordinary roads, an iron-and-steel track can reduce its friction with the wheels, thus improving the speed of locomotives.

Why Does a Train Not Derail Easily?

Application of Slider

93


Train wheels all have a prominent part (flange) on their inner side to guide the movement of a train and

prevent derailment. There are very complex requirements about the flange's contour. Wheels with worn

flanges may derail a train and therefore must be reprocessed until the flanges meet the standard contour

requirements.

Train Wheel Flange Structure

Origin of Railway Track

As early as the mid-16th century, with the boom of the British steel industry, iron ore mines emerged in large

numbers everywhere in Britain. However, the transportation of ores at that time was very backward and

inefficient, as they were shipped out on horse-drawn carts or on people's backs. Then the owner of a company

figured out a way to transport iron ores more efficiently. He had two rows of logs placed end to end from the

hill top to the bottom, with the same distance between them. He then slided carts full of ores down along the

two rows of logs. People on the hill would yell, "Watch out! The cart is coming down", to which those at the

foot of the hill would reply loudly, "Arrived. Good job!" The initial wooden track thus emerged.

Wooden tracks became very popular for some time because they could be laid easily and saved labor when

heavy objects were transported from a higher place to a lower place. However, wooden tracks were not

effective enough and did not save much labor on flat ground. Moreover, wooden tracks were not durable and

wore out easily.

By 1767, someone tried using pig iron instead of wood to make tracks. People called the pit-iron tracks

iron "iron tracks" or railroad. Iron tracks were much smaller than wooden tracks. They could be placed

directly on the ground. As the cart wheels were also made of iron, a cart would make a clanging sound

when pushed along an iron track. Iron tracks helped save labor in carrying coal and delivering goods.

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Lesson 10 Automatic Windows (1) Linear SlidersMechanical Maker CourseMechanical Maker Course

Extension—A Hard Job to Move the Windows?

Now we have built the frame of an automatic window for Xiao Ming. Do you still remember how Xiao

Ming said that he had a hard time opening or closing the windows? The strange thing is that normally

aluminum windows can be slid very smoothly and effortlessly. What went wrong with the windows at

Xiao Ming's home? Let’s slide the model windows we have just built, and think carefully about which

parts may cause the window to be so hard to slide.

Solution Design

Subject Why is it so hard to slide a window?

Requirements Do not use extra parts

Possible reasons (try to list as many

reasons as you can)

Design a solution (describe the solution as clearly as possible

in words or drawings)


1. Use appropriate tools to build and adjust the window model according to the solution. Tip: Follow the

instructions for the safe use of tools. 2. Report the process in class.

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Evaluation



ActiveDexterous

Familiar with the use of sliders and V-slot bearings

The solution has clearly described the window's design style and can be successfully implemented.



Self-evaluation



Score

Total score


08


Keep the automatic window models for use in the next lesson; check, put in order, and reset the remaining materials.

07

97


09

Reference Answers

Reason 1: broken pulleys Fix: Replace the broken pulleys; slide the windows gently.

Reason 2: blockage due to dust or garbage in the V-slot. Fix; Use a vacuum cleaner to remove the

dust from the groove and the seal; wipe them clean with a wet cloth; clear off the dust or garbage in a

timely manner at other times.

Reason 3: deformed, dented framework Fix: Use a pair of pliers to straighten it up; keep it in a good

condition; never stand on it; use qualified materials for windows.

Reason 4: increased friction due to long-time use. Fix: add a little oil or apply a layer of paraffin oil

to lubricate.

Reason 5: loose connection between the pulleys and the window. Fix: Tighten the screws; keep them

in a good condition; do not shake when sliding the windows.


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Lesson 11Automatic

Windows (2)

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Lesson 11 Automatic Windows (2) Automatic Control

01


1. Know how to build a stepper motor and control it through programming2. Learn to perform basic input and output control operations through a Me Touch Sensor.

Process and Methods

1. Able to design a program that allows automatic windows to accept signals and act accordingly.2. Automate a window through group cooperation.


Further enhance programming mindset and establish the concept of signal interaction.

02

We have built the window frame, but it's still far from the automatic window we wanted. We need a motor to make the window move automatically, a sensor to control the direction of the movement, and programs to realize the functions of the motor and the sensor. Today let's further explore the programming world with Xiao Ming.

Window

Teaching Objectives

Lead-in

99


03

DIY—Automation of Windows

Structural Analysis

No obvious detachable structure


Follow the instructions in the Construction Manual to prepare the materials needed to automate a window.

Construction

Automatic Window Model


100

04

Parts Introduction—Stepper Motor and Touch Module

Stepper Motor

A stepper motor is an electromagnetic device that converts electrical pulse signals into angular displacement or linear displacement. This is hard for us to understand now. We just need to understand its basic use and characteristics. Within certain limits, a stepper motor's rotary speed and direction are not affected by a load change. That is to say, a stepper motor is unlike an ordinary motor in that its speed and distance are completely controlled by a program whereas an ordinary motor will rotate at a slower speed when the load increases.The motor must be carefully sized to the application with respect to torque and speed.

Stepper Motor Stepper Motor Installation

Me Touch Sensor

A touch sensor can detect if it is touched. When it is touched, the blue LED light on the board will go on. Combined with other devices, a Me Touch Sensor can be used to build touch-controlled models.

Me Touch Sensor


100

Wiring Mode

The 42BYG Stepper Motor can be connected directly with the MegaPi Pro control board, and indirectly with the Me Auriga control board through the Me Stepper Motor Driver module. The driver module has a red-ID port and should be connected to a red-ID port on the Me Auriga.

Connecting 42BYG Stepper Motor to Me Auriga

The Me Touch Sensor module has a blue-ID port and should be connected a blue-ID port on the motherboard.

Connecting Me Touch Sensor to Me Auriga


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Program Control

The motor control command is as follows:

Program command Description

Parameter 1: Select a portParameter 2: Set the rotary speedParameter 3: Set the stepping distance

The following is an example of how to control the stepper motor through programming: the stepper motor accelerates in different periods and rotates in opposite directions again and again.

Stepper Motor Control Sample Program


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The touch sensor command is as follows:


Parameter 1: Select a portSend the feedback "1" when touched and "0" when untouched.

The following is an example of how to use a touch sensor: If the touch sensor is touched, the little panda moves 10 steps. Repeat!

Touch Module Control Sample Program

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Mechanical Maker Course Lesson 11 Automatic Windows (2) Automatic Control

100

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Extension—Program an Automatic Window

Now that we have built the physical parts of the automatic window, there is only one last but most

important step left—writing a control program. We already know how to program a stepper motor and a

touch sensor. Then how can we program an automatic window?

Solution Design

Subject Control how an automatic window moves through programming.

Requirements When the right touch sensor is touched, the window moves to the right; when the left touch sensor is touched, the window moves to the left.

Main program

Is the left Me Touch Sensor

touched?

Yes The stepper motor rotates clockwise to

open the window

NoProgram Flow

ChartIs the right Me Touch Sensor

touched?

Yes

The stepper motor rotates counter-

clockwise to close the window.

No

End

05


105


Design a solution (describe the

solution as clearly as possible in

words or drawings)


1. Try using mBlock to complete the program design through group cooperation.

2. Check whether the program design has met the requirements. Propose new solutions if new problems arise.

New problems

Solutions

3. Optimize the program design according to the new solution until an automatic window is built.

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100

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Evaluation



ActiveDexterous

Skillful in controlling the stepper motor and touch sensors through programming

The program meets the design requirements clearly and succinctly and can run smoothly.



Self-evaluation



Score

Total score


07


Disassemble the automatic window models; check, put in order, and reset the materials.

06


107

Lesson 12Vacuum Cleaner

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Lesson 12 Vacuum Cleaner Life Application

01


1. Learn how to control the Me Potentiometer through programming.2. Learn how to use a power device—air pump motor.

Process and Methods

1. Build a vacuum cleaner model through group cooperation.2. Realize the functions of a vacuum cleaner through programming.


Encourage students to resolve practical problems more through programming; develop their programming mindset and ability to resolve problems.

02

Every morning, it was not only the singing of birds that woke up Xiao Ming, but also the sound of someone sweeping the floor. Each time he opened the door, he saw a figure bending over to sweep the floor and tapping her sore waist gently from time to time. It was his mother.

It pained Xiao Ming very much to see this. His mother never complains. I must do something to help my mom. I cannot let her work so hard, Xiao Ming thought to himself. But how can I help? A vacuum cleaner...

Household Vacuum Cleaner

Teaching Objectives

Lead-in

109


03

DIY—Build a Vacuum Cleaner

Structural Analysis



Follow the instructions in the Construction Manual to prepare the materials needed to build the vacuum cleaner frame.

Construction

Students in each group work together to build a vacuum cleaner through a reasonable division of labor.

Steps:

Set up the chassis

Set up the storage box

Install various parts


Vacuum Cleaner Model

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Mechanical Maker Course Lesson 12 Vacuum Cleaner Life Application

Parts Introduction—Air Pump Motor DC 12V/3202PM and Me Potentiometer

Air Pump Motor DC 12V/3202PM has one inlet nozzle and one exhaust nozzle. It uses electric power to compress air continuously to generate air pressure, and then rapidly transfers the air from one space to another. Since it is a DC-powered motor, it is also called a DC motor in mBlock.

Air Pump Motor DC 12V/3202PM

The Me Potentiometer module contains an adjustable potentiometer with a maximum resistance of 10K. It can be used to adjust the motor's rotary speed and the brightness of LED lamps. Simply put, we can turn the potentiometer's knob to adjust the state of other modules.

Me Potentiometer

04

111


Wiring Mode

The air pump motor needs to be connected to the Me Auriga through the Me DC Motor Driver, as shown in the figure below. Since the motor does not have a port, we must cut off the connecting cable's white port and wrap the copper wire inside on the two connecting posts of the air pump motor.

Connecting Air Pump Motor DC 12V/3202PM to Me Auriga

The Me Potentiometer has a black-ID analog signal port and needs to be connected to a black-ID port on the motherboard.

Connecting Me Potentiometer to Me Auriga

112


Program Control

The motor control block is as follows:


Parameter 1: Select a portParameter 2: Set the rotary speed of the motor

The Me Potentiometer control block is as follows:


Parameter 1: Select a portReturn the Me Potentiometer's position parameter (0-980)

Example: This program will enable the little panda to say the Me Potentiometer's analog output value and move to the corresponding x-coordinate. The range is 0-980. The results are as follows:

Me Potentiometer Control Sample Program

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Extension—Programming for a Vacuum Cleaner

We have helped Xiao Ming build a vacuum cleaner. But a vacuum cleaner cannot work without a program.

How can we make the vacuum cleaner work? With the knowledge you have acquired today, it should not

be a problem for you.

Solution Design

Subject Program to control a vacuum cleaner

Requirements Use the Me Potentiometer module to control a vacuum cleaner's working state (on and off) and suction force.

Program Flow Chart

Design a solution (describe the solution as clearly as

possible in words or drawings).

05

Main program

Reduce the Me Potentiometer value to be

within the motor speed range and define it as a variable.

Set the air pump motor value as a variable

End

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1. Try using mBlock to complete the program design through group cooperation.

2. Check whether the program design has met the requirements. Propose new solutions if new problems arise.

New problems

Solutions

3. Optimize the program design based on the new solution until functions of a vacuum cleaner have been realized.

Evaluation



ActiveDexterous

Know how to connect the air pump motor and the Me Potentiometer to the Me Auriga and control them through programming.

The program meets the design requirements clearly and succinctly, and can run smoothly.



Self-evaluation



Score

Total score


06

115


07


Disassemble the vacuum cleaner models; check, put in order, and reset the materials.


116

Lesson 13Self-driving Car

(1)

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01


1. Learn advanced programming logic and algorithms.2. Learn how Mecanum wheels work.

Process and Methods

1. Able to control motors flexibly; improve the ability to design automation systems.2. Master complex program logics; use "repetition" and "judgment" statements correctly; able to write programs with clear logic and correct grammar.


1. Learn the simple applications of artificial intelligence.2. Enhance the programming mindset; be able to write programs more stringently and scientifically.

02

Xiao Ming visited a science and technology exhibition yesterday. The dazzling array of high-tech products made him linger on and on. After experiencing the unique charm of science and technology, he believed that high-tech products will enter every household in the future and that they will improve the quality of life for everyone. Among the numerous exhibits, Xiao Ming had a special liking for the self-driving car. He wished very much that he had such a car, which is both convenient and safe.

Xiao Ming has made up his mind to study hard and buy a self-driving car in the future. Moreover, he wants to learn how a self-driving car works, and then build a unique smart car by himself.

Let's build a smart car together with Xiao Ming.

Self-driving Car

Teaching Objectives

Lead-in

118

Lesson 13 Self-driving Car (1) Automation Design

03

DIY—Build a Self-driving Car

Structural Analysis



Follow the instructions in the Construction Manual to prepare the materials needed to build a self-driving car.

Construction

Students in each group work together to build the chassis and control system of a self-driving car through a reasonable division of labor.

Steps:

Set up the chassis

Install the control system


Self-driving Car Model

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Lesson 13 Self-driving Car (1) Automation DesignMechanical Maker Course

04

Part Introduction—Mecanum Wheel

The Mecanum wheel is a conventional wheel with a series of rollers attached obliquely to its circumference. The wheel is designed to move a car in any direction relying on the direction and speed of each roller. Mecanum wheels are omni-directional wheels with compact structure and flexible movement. Omni-directional motion devices based on the Mecanum wheel technology can advance, move sideways, move obliquely, rotate, or realize other actions. Omni-directional forklifts and transport platforms are very suitable for the ship environment with limited transshipment space and narrow operation channels. They can significantly improve the efficiency of ship support, increase the utilization of ship space, and reduce labor costs.

Mecanum Wheel


A Mecanum wheel is simply a complex wheel train. The placement of the center wheel and small flange rollers is based on rigorous scientific principles. Interested students may consult relevant documents after class to explore the deeper working principles of Mecanum wheels.

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Lesson 13 Self-driving Car (1) Automation DesignMechanical Maker Course

Extension—Let the Self-driving Car Run

Through concerted efforts, we have built the chassis. However, Xiao Ming feels that the car is still an iron

rack and cannot run. He is wondering how to use a motor to power the car, so that it can advance, retreat,

or perform other actions, thus completing the preliminary design of a self-driving car. Let's brainstorm and

work together with Xiao Ming to meet the challenge of controlling a car.

Program Control—Control a Motor

DC Motor Sample Program

When using the program blocks to control the motor, we can select a corresponding port and set an appropriate rotary speed to make the motor rotate.

Solution Design

Subject Enable the car to advance, retreat, turn left, turn right, or complete other actions.

Requirements The motor should work properly, and avoid excessive movement or inability to move.


05

121


Design a solution (describe the

solution as clearly as possible in

words or drawings).


Action Program

Advance

Retreat

Turn left

Turn right

Note: Use words or drawings whenever possible to record the final design of the program in the table.

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Lesson 13 Self-driving Car (1) Automation DesignMechanical Maker Course Lesson 13 Self-driving Car (1) Automation Design

Evaluation

Performance Activity Knowledge Points Solution Design Model


ActiveDexterous

Know how to use Mecanum wheels

Succeed in writing a control program to let the self-driving car run



Self-evaluation



Score

Total score


07


Keep the self-driving car models for use in the next lesson; check, put in order, and reset the remaining materials.

06

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Lesson 13 Self-driving Car (1) Automation DesignMechanical Maker Course Lesson 13 Self-driving Car (1) Automation DesignMechanical Maker Course

123

08

Reference Answers


Action Program

Advance

Retreat

Turn left

Turn right

Note: Providing the left motor is connected to Port 2.

Lesson 13 Self-driving Car (1) Automation Design

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01


1. Learn the working principles of Me Ultrasonic Sensors and Me Line Followers.2. Master the advanced programming logic and algorithms.

Process and Methods

1. Master the skills for combined use of multiple sensors; improve the ability to design intelligent systems.2. Master complex program logic; correctly use "repetition" and "judgment" statements; be able to write programs with clear logic and correct grammar.



02

Through efforts, a self-driving car is taking shape. Xiao Ming believes that by meeting the challenge head-on, we will surely be able to build a dashing self-driving car.

Next, we will design an intelligent system for the self-driving car. The system uses various sensors to enable the car to identify and bypass obstacles, thus truly realizing the self-driving function.

Come on! Let's design an intelligent system for the self-driving car.

Self-driving Car

Teaching Objectives

Lead-in

Lesson 14 Self-driving Car (2) Following Lines Intelligently

126

03

DIY—Intelligent System Control

Automatic Obstacle Avoidance

A self-driving car must be able to identify obstacles in front and take appropriate evasive actions

promptly to avoid collisions. This is where an ultrasonic module comes in handy. An ultrasonic module

can transmit ultrasonic waves to the front of the car. The waves will rebound when they meet an obstacle.

The module can then calculate the distance between the car and the obstacle, enabling the car to take

evasive actions at a safe distance.

Control program:

Step Function Program

1Set the ultrasonic module's detection distance at 25cm

2The car turns to bypass an obstacle when it is detected.

3

The car continues to move forward when no obstacle is detected in front or the obstacle has been bypassed.

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Lesson 14 Self-driving Car (2) Following Lines IntelligentlyMechanical Maker CourseMechanical Maker Course

127127127

Line-following Advance

The car can move along a black line against a white background. But when the car comes to a bend, it can

hardly make a turn and then deviates from the route. The Me Line Follower module can detect whether

the car has deviated from the black route. Based on the module's feedback data, we can design corrective

actions to bring the car back to the correct route.

Both the left and right sensors of the Me Line Follower module can detect the color of the ground (black

or white). The module has four states—"0", "1", "2", and "3"—as follows:

Me Line Follower Signal Me Line Follower State

0 Both the left and right sensors detect the color to be black.

1 The left sensor detects the color to be black, and the right sensor, white.

2 The left sensor detects the color to be white, and the right sensor, black.

3 Both the left and right sensors detect the color to be white.


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Control program:


1The Me Line Follower sends the feedback "0": no deviation; keep moving forward

2The Me Line Follower sends the feedback "1": deviates to the right; control the car to turn left

3The Me Line Follower sends the feedback "2": deviates to the left; control the car to turn right


129

The Me Line Follower sends the feedback "3": deviates from the route totally; control the car to turn left or right until the route is found; keep moving forward until returning to the black route.

4

Combine the above so that the car can move forward normally along the black route.

5


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Combined Line Following—Obstacle-Avoiding car

By combining the obstacle-avoiding function and the line-following function, we can enable a self-

driving car to avoid obstacles automatically and drive non-stop along the route.

The program is as follows:

Line-following and Obstacle-avoiding Control Program Example

The above is one of the control programs to enable a car to automatically follow a line and avoid

obstacles. Adjust it according to the specific situation for the safe and smooth running of the self-driving

car.

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Lesson 14 Self-driving Car (2) Following Lines IntelligentlyMechanical Maker CourseMechanical Maker Course

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Parts Introduction—Me Ultrasonic Sensor and Me Line Follower

The Me Ultrasonic Sensor is an electronic module that uses the principle of the reflection of sound waves to measure distance within the range of 3cm to 400cm. It can help a cart to avoid obstacles. It can also be used in other relevant distance-measuring projects. The Me Ultrasonic Sensor has a yellow-ID port and thus should be connected to a yellow-ID port on Makeblock Auriga with RJ25-port cable. Taking Makeblock Auriga as an example, it can be connected to Ports 6-10 as shown in the figure below:

Connecting the Me Ultrasonic Sensor to Makeblock Auriga

The Me Line Follower module contains two sensors, each having an infrared emitting LED and an infrared induction phototransistor, and features fast detection speed and a simple circuit. It allows a robot to move along a black line against a white background or a white line against a black background. The Me Line Follower module has a blue-ID port and thus should be connected to Makeblock Auriga with RJ25-port cable. Taking Makeblock Auriga as an example, it can be connected to Ports 6-10 as shown in the figure below:

Connecting the Me Line Follower to Makeblock Auriga.

04

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Lesson 14 Self-driving Car (2) Following Lines IntelligentlyLesson 14 Self-driving Car (2) Following Lines IntelligentlyMechanical Maker CourseMechanical Maker Course

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05

Extension—Adapt Me Line Follower to New Environments

If the self-driving car comes to a new city with white streets against a black background rather than black

streets against a white background, how should we redesign the control program so that the self-driving

car can run normally on the streets of the city?

Solution Design

Subject Enable the self-driving car to run on white streets against a black background



clearly as possible in words or drawings)


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134

06

Evaluation



ActiveDexterous

Know how to use tools

Seriously studied the sensors and discovered the law



Self-evaluation



Score

Total score


07


Do some search and find five examples of sensors using the reflection principle of sound waves like the

Me Ultrasonic Sensor does.

Name Function Use environment


135

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Keep the self-driving car models for use in the next lesson; check, put in order, and reset the remaining materials.

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09

Extension


1

The Me Line Follower sends the feedback "0": deviates from the route totally; control the car to turn left or right until the route is found; keep moving forward until returning to the black route.

2The Me Line Follower sends the feedback "1": deviates to the left; control the car to turn right

3The Me Line Follower sends the feedback "2": deviates to the right; control the car to turn left

Reference Answers


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4The Me Line Follower sends the feedback "3": no deviation; keep moving forward

Combine the above so that the car can move forward normally along the black route.

5


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01


1. Learn the structure principles of a robot arm; be able to build the basic robot arms.2. Master the advanced programming logic and algorithms.

Process and Methods

1. Master the skills for combined use of multiple sensors; improve the ability to design intelligent systems.2. Master complex program logics; correctly use "repetition" and "judgment" statements; be able to write programs with clear logic and correct grammar.



02

We have almost built a self-driving car. But sometimes, the car cannot change its direction properly on narrow roads. In such cases, when the car meets an obstacle, we have to remove it manually. Otherwise, the car will not be able to move on, which upsets Xiao Ming very much. Xiao Ming hopes that the self-driving car can clear obstacles automatically in front of it using a robot arm, and then move on.

Let's work together to complete building a powerful self-driving car.

Self-driving Car

Teaching Objectives

Lead-in

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Lesson 15 Self-driving Car (3) Clearing ObstaclesMechanical Maker Course

03

DIY—Robot Arm of a Self-driving Car

Structural Analysis



Follow the instructions in the Construction Manual to prepare the materials needed to build a robot arm.

Construction

We are close to completing a self-driving car. It has already possessed the self-driving potential. To

enable a self-driving car to better cope with poor road conditions, we need to give it a flexible robot

arm, so that it can clear obstacles on its own.

Students in each group should work together to build a robot arm for the self-driving car through a

reasonable division of labor.

Steps:

Set up the robot arm

Install the motor

Install the robot arm


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Lesson 15 Self-driving Car (3) Clearing ObstaclesMechanical Maker CourseMechanical Maker Course

The Beam0412 is a commonly used Makeblock structural part for building various mechanical structures. It has different lengths and can be used in combination with plastic gears, timing pulleys, other wheel-related parts, and motor shafts. It can also be used in multiple to form different cuttable linkage. The beam has slots for convenient and flexible connections with most Makeblock motion parts and structural parts. Moreover, it has an extremely high load-bearing capacity.

Beam0412

05

Control the Robot Arm

There are many different kinds of motors on the robot arm. We need to understand the function of each motor at each joint, and design corresponding control programs to enable the robot arm to clear obstacles consistently and scientifically.

04

Parts Introduction—Beam08412

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Lesson 15 Self-driving Car (3) Clearing ObstaclesMechanical Maker CourseMechanical Maker Course

142

Program Flow Chart

Main program

Is the distance detected by the

ultrasonic module less than 25cm?

The car stopsLower the robot arm

Yes

Wait two seconds

The robot arm catches the obstacle firmly

Wait three seconds

Lift the robot arm

Wait two seconds

The car removes the obstacle to roadside

Lower the robot armRelease the obstacle

Lift the robot arm

Wait two seconds

The car returns to its original route and

moves on

End


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Program:


1Lower the robot arm and prepare to catch the obstacle

2 Catch the obstacle and lift it up

3Remove the obstacle to roadside and prepare to put it down

Lesson 15 Self-driving Car (3) Clearing Obstacles

144

4Place the obstacle at roadside and clear the road

Smoothly release the obstacle. As the road is cleared, the car returns to its route and moves on. The process of clearing obstacles is complete.

5

The program is written to suit the particular situation. Modify the program based on a specific situation.


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06

Activity—Automatic Removal of Obstacles

Run a self-driving car equipped with a robotic arm based on a line-following map that comes with the parts. Place obstacles on its path and test whether it can remove the obstacles with the help of the robot arm. Adjust the program according to a specific environmental condition to ensure that the self-driving car can better complete the obstacle-clearing task.

Try Performance of self-driving car Improvements to be made and solutions

1

2

3

4

5

Lesson 15 Self-driving Car (3) Clearing Obstacles

146

07

Evaluation



ActiveDexterous

Know how to use gear tools

The self-driving car is able to remove obstacles and move on smoothly.



Self-evaluation



Score

Total score



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08


Disassemble the self-driving car models; check, put in order, and reset the materials.

makeblockstatic.education.makeblock.com/mechanicalmakercourse.pdf · 2019-03-29 ·...

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