Project Overview Introduction to Factory Automation Numerical Control Build an autonomous robotic solution Testing an autonomous robot build by human control Programming a autonomous robot Exploring sensors Autonomous robot design challenge Industrial applications build challenge Industrial applications robot delivery Manufacturing system design challenge

LESSON 06

LESSON 6 STARTER Developing your robot solution Last lesson you looked at sensors, and began to design methods for fitting them to the basic robot we have been working with, and developing it so that it became less human controlled and more autonomous. The design brief asked you to achieve the following task: - reduce the amount of human control to collect and store objects Additionally it could also: - pick up only certain colour objects - remove objects from the storage area - know the storage area is full Task In groups, your task is now to present how this will be done, and explain the changes to the robot solution verbally. Use the robot to demonstrate and explain, and place the appropriate sensors in the places where they would be used. Present as concisely as you can to the class.

autonomous Robotics Challenge Learning objective: Explore the task of designing a robot for an open design brief by sketching and modelling, work in a team focused environment to produce a unique design, and manufacture a final unique solution. Your main challenge In the next two lessons you are tasked with organising objects from point A to point B. The objects will be assigned randomly to each team using dice (6 potential objects to design for). You can use the current robot solution as a starting point, or completely start again. (But consider timing with the latter option). For the object assigned to you, you will need to propose a robot that meets the following technical design specification: 1. The constructed solution must operate autonomously to move each object from point A to point B. 2. Objects can be “handed” to the robot within an area defined at point A, but you may not touch the robot (only the object) 3. The objects at point B must be able to stay there on their own accord (you cannot interact with them) 4. The speed, accuracy and more autonomous your robot can perform will earn your team “teacher accredited” points 5. Objects “dropped” during autonomous operation can be collected by the team and returned to point A only 6. The robot that can perform without any human interaction with objects at point A will be awarded the highest marks. 7. You have 1 minute of autonomous operation within which to score points.

autonomous Robotics Challenge Your challenge Using the provided handout, assign one person in your team to be the scribe (writer) and together brainstorm what you are going to have to do to achieve your challenge. Add to your brainstorm measurements of the object you have been assigned. Put down as many options that you can see you have… I.e. can you hold the object in multiple ways or just one, will the object stay once dropped or do you need a collecting device, can you automate the collection of the object at point A or do you need human interaction, will the robot know it has dropped the object too early or missed point B?

autonomous Robotics Challenge What type of robots exist? There are certain robots used in industry that you might like to replicate and develop for this challenge. These are Cartesian robots – move the end effector through the robot coordinate system (X, Y and Z) Scara Robots – move through 3 rotational positions in a vertical stack 6 Axis Robots – can fully position the actuator in 6 pivot points Redundant Robots – replicate human form as close as possible Dual Arm Robots – two arms that work together on one task The above robots will also be either serial or parallel robot solutions Serial are made up of a series of joints and linkages from base to tool (applicator) Parallel are in a much wider range of forms, but generally fit into a smaller space and feature closed loops to create higher acceleration and accuracy. The ‘right hand rule’ can be used to show the movement of a Cartesian robot.

autonomous Robotics Challenge Consider a conveyor belt VEX Robotics tank track kits provide the opportunity to create a conveyor belt (similar to those you see in your supermarket checkouts). Here is one way of producing such a feature (see handout for detailed images). What benefits does this offer? What issues could it cause? + =

autonomous Robotics Challenge Consider a turntable VEX Robotics turntable kits are able to help you produce new types of movement different to our current robot solution. In the example below, our basic robot has been modified so that the tower will rotate through 360 degrees. What benefits does this offer? What issues could it cause? + =

autonomous Robotics Challenge A typical layout of your challenge Review the layout below of your challenge and consider what you will do to meet it. Make sure you score Your objects will need to stay in the zone so that you score from them. Organise your objects Your objects will need to be collected in order one at a time.

autonomous Robotics Challenge Think around the challenge… Think about the options you have for your challenge. For example you could use a conveyor to move objects into or out of the zones, without breaking the challenge rules. The conveyor could be a method of organising the objects into a path, at a steady and consistent pace, or a method for moving them a distance with the robots aid. Objects in to zone B …or alternatively you could use the conveyor to drop the objects into Zone B, using the robot to place each object onto the conveyors’ belt. Objects out of zone A You could use a conveyor to move objects out of Zone A as you load them into the path of the robot…

autonomous Robotics Challenge Draw your challenge outcome Time to commit ideas to paper. Draw collectively or assign a sketch artist in your team to draw the ideas down. Use the sheet provided to draw out your ideas. Use coloured pens to label movement (blue) and sensor inputs (red) and human input (green).

LESSON 6 Plenary As a class, let us consider the following questions? A. How have you found working in a team today? B. What roles and responsibilities made an effective team dynamic? C. How did you select between design ideas and sketches before modelling? D. How are you constrained in the design process?

LESSON 6 Summary Today you have: Learning objective: Explore the task of designing a robot for an open design brief by sketching and modelling, work in a team focused environment to produce a unique design, and manufacture a final unique solution. Today you have: Explored the task of designing and sketching robot ideas Worked in a team to develop a final solution Began manufacture of a final solution suited for testing against a design brief