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1 | Summary: | Introduction to the 6-Axis Arm, is an eight Unit VEX CTE Workcell course designed to introduce students to industrial robotics. The course begins with an introduction to industrial robotics. Then students will learn to use a Teach Pendant in VEXcode EXP to control the movements of the 6-Axis Robotic Arm from the CTE Workcell Kit. They will use that Teach Pendant as they explore manual movements, jogging the 6-Axis Arm, and moving to specific positions. In the next unit, students will begin coding the 6-Axis Arm to move to specific locations using the (x,y,z) axes individually. In the following Units, students use the pen attachment and draw on the whiteboard in order to explore coding the 6-Axis Arm to move around obstacles and to move in all three axes simultaneously to reach a location. In the final units of this course, students will learn to pick and place cubes on pallets using the Magnet Pickup Tool, first in one layer, and then in stacks. Then they will apply everything they have learned throughout the course to complete a Capstone project using the engineering design process. The following Pacing Guide shows the VEX CTE Workcell STEM Lab Units from the Introduction to the 6-Axis Arm Course. Each week is based on five 50-minute class periods. | |||
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3 | Time | STEM Lab | Description | Build Description | Key Concepts |
4 | 1 week | Unit 1: Introduction to Industrial Robotics | Set up the VEX CTE 6-Axis Robotic Arm, explore the Cartesian coordinate system, and learn about how robotic arms are used in industry. | Direct CTE 6-Axis Arm Base | Introduction to Factory Automation Cartesian Coordinate System Manual Movements |
5 | 1 week | Unit 2: Using the Teach Pendant | Use the Teach Pendant to control the movement of the 6-Axis Robotic Arm as you pick up and place Disks on the CTE Tile. | No additional building | Teach Pendant Jogging the Arm End Effectors |
6 | 1 week | Unit 3: Coding Movements | Use block-based coding to code the 6-Axis Robotic Arm to move along the x, y, and z-axes and combine those behaviors to move to locations on the CTE Tile. | No additional building | Introduction to Block-Based Coding Moving Along the X, Y, and Z-Axes |
7 | 1 week | Unit 4: Controlling the Path | Code the 6-Axis Arm to draw on the Whiteboard with the Pen and move around obstacles on the CTE Tile. | Direct CTE 6-Axis Arm Base + Whiteboard | End Effectors Path Controlled Movements Identifying Waypoints |
8 | 1 week | Unit 5: Drawing Shapes | Explore how to code the 6-Axis Arm in all three axes by drawing shapes. | No additional building | End Effectors Using Comments Coding in 3D Space Using Multiple Axes |
9 | 1 week | Unit 6: Absolute and Relative Movement | Learn how to code the 6-Axis Robotic Arm to use both absolute and relative movements to draw shapes. Then make more complex shapes and patterns by incorporating variables and Repeat loops. | No additional building | Absolute Movement Relative Movement Variables Repeat Loops |
10 | 1 week | Unit 7: Transporting and Palletizing Objects | Learn to code the 6-Axis Robotic Arm to pick and place multiple Cubes on pallets using a fixed location in combination with relative movements. Incorporate variables and If then blocks into your projects. | Direct CTE 6-Axis Arm Base + Pallets | Relative Movement Variables Repeat Loops If then Blocks |
11 | 1 week | Unit 8: Stacking Objects | Learn how to make a plan to complete a task, then code the 6-Axis Arm to place all nine Cubes on one pallet. | No additional building | Relative Movement Decomposition Project Planning |
12 | 2 weeks | Capstone - Engineering Design Process | Apply the skills and concepts learned throughout the Course to code the 6-Axis Robotic Arm to pack orders onto pallets for shipping. | No additional building | All Course Concepts |