Lesson 2 Inputs

Lesson objectives To understand how inputs can be used to control an output To consider how to make mimics more realistic

Inputs Most forms of control technology respond to some kind of input. Inputs may include – a button – a switch – a sensor

Flowol Robot Open Flowol and go to the Robot Mimic. This robot has 4 inputs across its chest. These are different shaped buttons It has 4 outputs. An antenna, mouth and 2 eyes.

What does this shape do?

What does this flow chart do? Try and create this for yourself. When the square is pressed the antenna should go up, wait a bit, then go down again.

Task 1: Create 4 flow charts to control the following Save your flow charts as ROBOT1 InputOutput SquareAntenna up, wait, down TriangleLeft eye on, wait, off CircleRight eye on, wait, off StarMouth on, wait, off.

We want to mimic real life control events using flowol. Pretend that the robot is a real life toy How can we make the robot buttons control the outputs in a more realistic way? Example – Would you use separate buttons to control the eyes? – Would it be better to press a button to make the antenna go up, then press another button to make it go down? – What else could we change?

Task 2: Change your flow diagrams to make the buttons have more realistic responses. It is up to you how to choose to change them, but you must be able to justify why you have made your decisions.

Task 3: In Pairs Explain your changes to the person next to you. Let them test your flow charts to check they work. You must explain – The change you have made – Why you think it improves the robot Swap and test your partners flow charts.

Share with the class What changes have you made? Why do you think this improves the robot toy?

Extension Open the School Bus mimic. This mimic has 6 inputs (the buttons on the dashboard) And 9 outputs

Extension Task Program the 6 buttons to do the following. InputOutput Switch 1Turns the lights on and off Switch 2Makes the right yellow and left yellow flash Switch 3Makes the right red and left red flash Switch 4Makes the stop sign come out and then the top and bottom stop lights flash on and off Switch 5Makes the guard open Switch 6Makes the guard close