In this challenge you will be working with and for Mr. Morrison’s robotics class, to design challenging tasks for the Gyroboy robots to do. You may work individually or as a group to design and prototype your challenge. You will be asked to employ the design process to accomplish this goal. As you develop your challenge you will be expected to also work as a team: supporting each other with constructive feedback, sharing resources and generally helping each other.

• Develop at least one, hopefully more than one low –resolution prototype
• Develop one higher resolution, working prototype.
• You must engage and document all phases of the basic design process. This includes meeting with the “users” and testing your prototype in actual class situations
• Create a compelling and comprehensive presentation that documents all phases of the process and explains your design choices and your assessment of your design successes and/or failures

The Gyroboy is a advanced customizable and programmable robot which is used in Mr. Morrison’s Studio level Robotics class. You can learn about them here:

The dimensions of the Gyroboy are as follows:

Height: 9.5" - 11.5" (including wires)

Width: 6"(from outside of wheel to wheel)

Depth: 7"

Gyroboy Demo

A modular base unit had been established which consists of 2’x2’ ¼” pegboard. The base forms a consistent surface for the robots to operate on. Multiple units can be ganged together to form larger challenges.  The pegboards have ¼” holes on a 1” grid which serves as an attachment and registration systems for the various challenge components that you will design and build. Anything that you design will have to conform to this attachment grid.

Two challenges that have been design and prototyped so far. 

The Maze - designed by Ian MacFarlane

Teeter Totter - Designed by Matt Kleckowski

As always the project is based on the standard design process and each phase of that process must be thoroughly completed and documented. Keep in mind that the design process is not necessarily linear, so that you may return to an earlier phase, multiple times.

Define the problem:

Meet with Mr Morrison and members of his class to discuss what kinds of challenges might be interesting to them. These conversations must be either recorded or documented in some way. In this stage you should mainly listen to what they are saying and to ask probing questions in order to deepen your understanding. You will need to understand how the robots work: what are their capabilities and limitations. Summarize your findings in your sketchbook as part of your documentation. You may find that this phase will naturally evolve into the next phase Brainstorming.

Brainstorming:

Initial brainstorming can take place in your initial meeting, but you will have to continue on this phase of the project on your own, or with your team. You are required to come up with a minimum of 3 possible design solutions. You must document your brainstorming in your sketchbook. You will build s low-resolution prototypes of your brainstorm results. A prototype can be a drawing or a 3d object.

Critique of Brainstorm/Select your best design solution:

As a whole group and with the teacher you will critique the various possible designs. This critique must also be documented in your sketchbook. The results of this critique will help you to select which of your designs has the best potential of success.

Refine your design:

After selecting your best idea, begin to refine it. This will mean making one or more working prototypes. The final or working prototype should be of sufficient quality that it can be tested by the robotics class. It may need still further refinement and testing as time allows. The final result should be a project that can be used with success by the class.

Presentation:

You will create a presentation of both your process (include documentation or evidence of all steps. You will present this to the class and others. 

Your project will be assessed with the following criteria:

• Quality of the design –Is your design challenging? Does it do a good job of testing the skills of the students, and work within the capabilities of the Gyroboy Robot?
• Quality of workmanship: Your design must fulfill its function, be durable and well made using the best materials available.
• Use of the design process: All phases completed and well documented.
• Quality of the presentation itself:  Succinctness, visual quality, comprehensive information.