| SES # | TOPICS | KEY DATES |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parts Sorting Session Attendance at this session is mandatory: Each team must provide one person-hour of manual labor helping to sort out the kit parts. Usually this session is a lot of fun as you get to meet other people in the class and see all the goodies in your kit. | |
| 2 | Lecture 1 - Course Welcome Attendance at this session is mandatory: Each team must have at least 50% of its members in attendance. In this session, we will go over the contest rules and organization of the class and hand out kits. Workshop 1A - Basic Techniques of LEGO® Assembly Bracing is a key element in keeping your robot together during the contest. Find out how to do it effectively and learn how you can use some of the more mysterious parts of your LEGO® kit. Workshop 2A - Motor Mounting and LEGO® Gearboxes Learn how to properly make a LEGO® gearbox that works smoothly and efficiently. Learn more about gear ratios, and how to connect your motors to your gearbox. | Assignment 1 out |
| 3 | Lecture 1.5 (Optional) - Crash Course in C Come to this lecture to learn and review the basics of C programming. Workshop 1B - Basic Techniques of LEGO® Assembly Bracing is a key element in keeping your robot together during the contest. Find out how to do it effectively and learn how you can use some of the more mysterious parts of your LEGO® kit. Workshop 2B - Motor Mounting and LEGO® Gearboxes Learn how to properly make a LEGO® gearbox that works smoothly and efficiently. Learn more about gear ratios, and how to connect your motors to your gearbox. | Assignment 1 due Assignment 2 out |
| 4 | Lecture 2 - Code and Sensors I The HandyBoard; Sensors and Actuators; Basic Robot Skills Workshop 3A - Electronic Assembly In 6.270 you will need to assemble several electronic components for your robot. Learn the basics electronic assembly. During this workshop you will have the opportunity to assemble your battery recharger. Workshop 4A - Code I: Basic Control and Robot Skills In this workshop you will learn how the HandyBoard communicates with its sensors and actuators. Get an introduction to IC and learn fundamental ways to make your robot move and turn. If you feel you do not know much about C at all, be sure to attend the Crash Course in C lecture. | Assignment 3 out |
| 5 | Workshop 3B - Electronic Assembly In 6.270 you will need to assemble several electronic components for your robot. Learn the basics electronic assembly. During this workshop you will have the opportunity to assemble your battery recharger. Workshop 4B - Code I: Basic Control and Robot Skills In this workshop you will learn how the HandyBoard communicates with its sensors and actuators. Get an introduction to IC and learn fundamental ways to make your robot move and turn. If you feel you do not know much about C at all, be sure to attend the Crash Course in C lecture. | Assignment 2 due |
| 6 | Lecture 3 - Advanced Techniques Finite State Machines; Using the Beacon | |
| 7 | Workshop 5A - Servos, Sensors, and Shaft Encoders Your robot cannot do anything useful without some knowledge of its external surroundings. Your robot will also need mechanisms for which it can navigate swiftly and accurately around the contest table. Learn how these parts in your robotics kit can help your robot move the way you want it to move. Find out which sensors work best for your robot's needs, and how to keep accurately track of how far or at which angle your robot has been moving. Also discuss how to use these unique parts in some more creative ways. Workshop 6A - Advanced LEGO® Every year many of the more unique pieces of your LEGO® kit are left unexplored and unused. Learn some interesting applications of your stranger LEGO® pieces, and how they can help your robot do task-specific motions. Workshop 7A - Code II: Advanced Techniques The code for your robot plays a crucial role in your robot's ability to win. Learn the value of good coding practices by observing robots with identical hardware trying to do the same task in different ways. Learn about error recovery techniques and how to achieve robustness in your code and strategy. | Assignment 4 out Assignment 3 due |
| 8 | Workshop 6B - Advanced LEGO® Every year many of the more unique pieces of your LEGO® kit are left unexplored and unused. Learn some interesting applications of your stranger LEGO® pieces, and how they can help your robot do task-specific motions. Workshop 7B - Code II: Advanced Techniques The code for your robot plays a crucial role in your robot's ability to win. Learn the value of good coding practices by observing robots with identical hardware trying to do the same task in different ways. Learn about error recovery techniques and how to achieve robustness in your code and strategy. | Assignment 4 due Assignment 5 out |
| 9 | Workshop 5B - Servos, Sensors, and Shaft Encoders Your robot cannot do anything useful without some knowledge of its external surroundings. Your robot will also need mechanisms for which it can navigate swiftly and accurately around the contest table. Learn how these parts in your robotics kit can help your robot move the way you want it to move. Find out which sensors work best for your robot's needs, and how to keep accurately track of how far or at which angle your robot has been moving. Also discuss how to use these unique parts in some more creative ways. | Assignment 5 due Assignment 6 and 7 out |
| 10 | Mock Contest Compete for fun in a practice contest against other machines. A great chance to test out your robot in competition. Ford Motor Company is sponsoring awards to the top three teams. Compete, get some practice, have some fun, win something!!! | Assignment 6 and 7 due |
| 11 | Robot Impounding All work on robots will cease two days after the seeding rounds. All robots will be impounded in the EECS lab. | |
| 12 | The Contest, Double Elimination Rounds The first two elimination rounds of the contest. This event is open to the public. Ford Motor Company is sponsoring Brunch. The Contest, Final Rounds The final rounds of the competition. Robots will compete until a winner is decided. This event is open to the public. This event will be televised live on MIT Cable. | |
| 13 | Lab Cleanup Attendance at this session is mandatory: Each team must provide one person-hour of manual labor helping to clean up the lab so that we can give it back to 6.111 the way we found it. | Web Page due |