Mars Exploration Project

Mars Exploration Project

1. Constraints

   • Knowledge
     • Lack of Prior Knowledge about EV3 Mindstorms, Python and Algorithms
       • May be unable to undertake challenging and complex tasks.
         • May hinder efficiency of the completion of tasks
   • Time Constraints
     • Only provided 5 weeks to complete
       • Not enough time to undertake complex methods of completing mission
   • Equipment
     • Equipment is shared among several classes
       • May be Faulty
         • Not enough robots/cables/sensors

2. Criteria

   • Prescribed Criteria
     • Collision Avoidance
       • Move around the immovable object
         • Rejoin the Path
           • Sample Code
         • Touch Sensor
           • Example Block Specifications
         • Ultrasonic Sensor
           • Ultrasonic Sensor
             • Example Block Specifications
     • Clearing the Path
       • Rejoin Line and Contintue Line Following Afterwards
         • Push movable object away from path
           • Sample Code
     • Line Following
       • If Colour Sensor > PCT Value Turn Right If Colour Sensor < PCT Value Turn Left
         • Extra power to left motor because sensor is not alligned to the middle of the robot
           • Sample Code:
   • Self-Determined Criteria
     • Complete the Full Path (one landing site to the other)
       • Get through City
         • Modified Line Following Code
     • Celebratory Dance and the End of Mission
       • Light Display
         • Brick Colour Changes In time to music
       • Sound Display
         • Creative and Intricate noises that correlate with mission (success).
           • Sample Code
       • Motion (Movements)
         • In a celebratory style (not sudden jerking or wild sporadic movements)
           • Action Blocks
             • Large Motor
               • Completion of Task
                 • Available Resources
                   • Learning Place
                     • Teacher knowledge
                 • Access to Software
                   • EV3 Mindstorms Application
                     • Relatively hard to obtain
             • Move Steering
           • Flow Control Blocks
             • Wait
             • Loop

3. EV3 Mindstorms

   • Sensors
     • Colour Sensor
       • Detects the brightness of light it receives.
         • PCT Value (short for percent)
           • 0 – 100 where 0 equals no reflected light measured and 100 equals full light reflection
     • Touch Sensor
       • Detects when its front button is pressed or released and moves accordingly
         • Is able to count single and multiple presses
     • Ultrasonic Sensor
       • Generates Sound Waves and Reads their Echoes
         • Measures distance from objects.
   • Blocks
     • Flow Control Blocks
       • Loop
         • A sequence of programming blocks that repeat
           • Repeat as many times as specified
       • Switch
         • Make sensor-based decisions
           • (Yes or No/True or False Decisions)
     • Action Blocks
       • Meduim Motor
         • lower-load, higher speed applications
           • when faster response times and a smaller profile are needed
       • Large Motor
         • uses tacho feedback for precise control to within one degree of accuracy.
           • By using the built-in rotation sensor, the intelligent motor can be made to align with other motors on the robot so that it can drive in a straight line at the same speed.
       • Move Steering
         • Used to make your robot drive forward, backward, turn, or stop, it
           • Adjusts the steering to make your robot go straight, drive in arcs, make tight or spin turns

Images and files in the map