| A | B | C | D | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Summary: | STEM Labs are fun STEM engagements that align to educational standards. All STEM Labs contain activities that are structured around iterative, engineering design processes, real-world applications and opportunities for students to build teamwork and collaboration skills. STEM Labs provide students with hands-on, minds-on engagement that encourages students to design creative solutions and innovate through experimentation. STEM Labs are flexible enough to be used in any instructional setting (e.g. in-school, after-school, camps, or VEX robotics teams/clubs). The following 45-Week Pacing Guide is focused on industrial robotics. It will introduce the students to the V5 Workcell that they will modify as they explore different manufacturing processes. Students will first investigate components and applications of industrial robots. Once the students have gained experience with the build, they will add sensors, motors, and conveyors to enhance the capabilities of the V5 Workcell while exploring the automation effectiveness of the Workcell. Once students are done with the 12 V5 Workcell STEM Labs, they will be introduced to the V5 Workcell Extensions. Finally, they will complete Lab 13: Capstone Project. VEX V5 Workcell Extensions are designed to further explore concepts covered in the STEM Labs and introduce students to additional sorting and automation concepts. For more information on the V5 Workcell Extensions, view this article. Time estimates are based on 3-4 hours of class time per week. | |||
2 | |||||
3 | Time | STEM Lab | Description | Build Description | Key Concepts |
4 | 1.5 Weeks | Lab 1: Industrial Robots | Explore Industrial Robotics as you build the VEX V5 Workcell and learn about the components and applications of industrial robots. | V5 Workcell | Building and Exploring Industrial Robots in the Workplace Updating Firmware Using a Potentiometer and Mastering Values |
5 | 0.5 Weeks | Lab 2: Safety | Add the Bumper Switch to the Workcell and code it to simulate an E-stop, then explore safety standards within industrial robotics. | V5 Workcell with Bumper Switch | Building and Exploring Safety Mechanisms and Precautions Safety Features such as the E-Stop |
6 | 1 Week | Lab 3: Manual Movement | Manually move the arm mounted on the V5 Workcell to learn about the Cartesian coordinate system and how the x, y, and z-values change when the arm on the Workcell moves. | V5 Workcell with Bumper Switch | Manually jogging the arm of the Workcell Robot Configurations Hydraulics and Pneumatics |
7 | 1 Week | Lab 4: Programing Movements | Observe and compare the difference between linear movements and joint movements using the V5 Workcell. | V5 Workcell with Whiteboard Attachment | Building and Exploring Programming Linear Movement and Joint Movement Motion Control and Robot Dynamics Controllers and Operating Systems |
8 | 1 Week | Lab 5: Using Variables | Learn how variables are used to store values while creating a project to move the arm mounted on the V5 Workcell to multiple locations. | V5 Workcell with Whiteboard Attachment | Variables and Repeat Loops Robotics and Automation Careers |
9 | 1 Week | Lab 6: Using End Effectors | Explore how to store (x, y, z) coordinates in a 2D List to draw triangles and letters using the arm mounted on the V5 Workcell. | V5 Workcell with Whiteboard Attachment | Robot Motion Accuracy and Repeatability 2D Lists and Variables |
10 | 1 Week | Lab 7: Dropping Off Objects | Add the Electromagnet to the VEX V5 Workcell and program it to pick up and drop off colored disks. | V5 Workcell with Electromagnet and Standoffs | Building and Exploring The UI on the V5 Brain Robotic Palletizing in Manufacturing |
11 | 1.5 Weeks | Lab 8: Transporting Objects | Add the V5 Optical Sensor to the Workcell and code the arm to sort disks based on their color. | V5 Workcell with Optical Sensor | Building and Exploring Coding the Optical Sensor Controlling a Diverter and Conveyor Conveyors used in Manufacturing |
12 | 1.5 Weeks | Lab 9: Using A Conveyor System | Build a conveyor system to sort colored disks in an expanded Workcell to explore material handling systems in manufacturing. | V5 Workcell with Conveyors | Building and Exploring Conveyors used in Manufacturing Projects Controlling the Diverter and Conveyor to Sort Objects |
13 | 2 Weeks | Lab 10: Conveyor Systems and Sensors | Utilize sensors with the conveyor system and learn how manufacturing processes incorporate sensors into the material handling. | V5 Workcell with Conveyors and Sensors | Building and Exploring Using "My Block" in a Project Using Line Trackers to Determine Locations |
14 | 2 Weeks | Lab 11: Cooperative Systems | Add a Disk Feeder and use Boolean Variables to move multiple disks in the Workcell in an autonomous fashion. | V5 Workcell with Disk Feeder | Building and Exploring Boolean Variables in Projects Robot to Robot Communication Input and Output Signals with Industrial Robots |
15 | 2 Weeks | Lab 12: Classroom Competitions | Learn tips and tricks with your VEX V5 Workcell and compete in a mini-competition to achieve a high score! | Free-form Build | Building and Exploring Troubleshooting the V5 Workcell Creating a project for a Competition Attitudes Towards Robotics |
16 | |||||
17 | Time | Workcell Extension | Description | Build Description | Key Concepts |
18 | 1 Week | Workcell Extension: Cost Efficiency | Create an efficient Workcell utilizing the least amount of components. | Free-form Build | Engineering constraints |
19 | 1 Week | Workcell Extension: Diverting Disks | Build and code a diverter to move disks from one conveyor belt to another. | Free-form Build | Build and code a diverter |
20 | 1 Week | Workcell Extension: Enable Entry | Can you sort disks on your Workcell using only one conveyor and a gate? | Free-form Build | Build and code a gate |
21 | 1 Week | Workcell Extension: Reject Entry | Use two gates with one disk feeder. | Free-form Build | Build and code a gate Build a disk feeder |
22 | 2 Weeks | Workcell Extension: Sort the Luggage | Your Workcell is a loading area in an airport. Sort the luggage so that they get onto the right flight. | Free-form Build | Build and code a gate Build a disk feeder Build and code a diverter |
23 | 2 Weeks | Workcell Extension: Baggage Claim | Pick up the disks from their loading zone and sort them on a conveyor system. | Free-form Build | Code the Optical Sensor Build a disk feeder Build and code multiple diverters Code a User Interface (UI) |
24 | 2 Weeks | Workcell Extension: Stay on Track | Use a retaining wall as a method to increase the efficiency of your Workcell. | Free-form Build | Build a disk feeder Build and code a diverter Build a retaining wall |
25 | 2 Weeks | Workcell Extension: Quality Control | Have the system reject the red disks when they enter the system using Limit Switches. | Free-form Build | Build a disk feeder Build and code a diverter Code Limit Switches |
26 | 2 Weeks | Workcell Extension: Going Higher | Move a disk from an elevated conveyor to a non-elevated conveyor. | Free-form Build | Build a disk feeder Build and code a gate Build and code a diverter Build and code an elevated conveyor |
27 | 2 Weeks | Workcell Extension: Fast Factory | Use a diverter, extended disk feeder, and elevated conveyors to sort and move packages throughout the factory. | Free-form Build | Build a disk feeder Build and code a gate Build and code a diverter Build and code elevated conveyors Code the Optical Sensor |
28 | 2 Weeks | Workcell Extension: Leveling Up | Sort disks using an advanced Workcell system of overlapping conveyors. | Free-form Build | Build a disk feeder Build and code a diverter Build and code overlapping conveyors |
29 | 2 Weeks | Workcell Extension: Turning it Up | Construct a turning conveyor belt to sort products. | Free-form Build | Build and code a turning conveyor belt Build and code an elevated conveyor Code the Line Trackers |
30 | 3 Weeks | Workcell Extension: New Heights | Sort disks using multiple layers of elevated and turning conveyor belts. | Free-form Build | Build and code a turning conveyor belt Build and code elevated conveyors Build and code a diverter Build a disk feeder |
31 | 2 Weeks | Workcell Extension: Work Together | Use two Workcells to sort and load disks! | Free-form Build | Build a disk feeder Build and code a diverter Cooperative Workcell systems |
32 | |||||
33 | Time | STEM Lab | Description | Build Description | Key Concepts |
34 | 4 Weeks | Lab 13: Capstone Project | Apply all you have learned from the Workcell STEM Labs and Extensions to create your own Workcell build and compete in the Capstone Project Competition! | Free-form Build | Planning a Workcell design Understanding Mechanical Limits of the Workcell Game strategy and competing |