Challenge Setups And Props

Use this when a project needs a physical course, wall, target, or object to move.

This is a setup menu. It is not a separate project. Pick one setup that matches your current project, make the smallest version that works, and start testing.

How To Use A Setup

1. Choose one setup.
2. Build only enough of the course to test one skill.
3. Run your current program.
4. Change one number or one line.
5. Run again.
6. Show the teacher one working behavior and one line you changed.

Good setup supplies:

• tape
• colored paper
• LEGO beams or bricks for markers
• LEGO bins
• books, binders, boxes, or walls
• small boxes, paper balls, crates, or LEGO packages
• a clear start mark and finish mark

Keep the course small at first. Make it harder only after the robot succeeds.

Setup 1: Line Ladder

Best after: Project 03, Project 04, Project 16.

Make four tape lines on the floor or table. Start the robot before the first line.

Challenge:

• Level 1: drive to the first line
• Level 2: pause or show a hub image at each line
• Level 3: stop at all four lines
• Level 4: use a loop so the repeated part is not typed four times

Good code knobs:

• drive degrees
• drive speed
• pause time
• loop repeats

Checkpoint: Which number controls how far the robot goes between lines?

Setup 2: Crater Turn Course

Best after: Project 04, Project 16.

Use books, bins, or boxes as craters. Mark a start and a finish. The robot must drive around the craters without touching them.

Challenge:

• Level 1: drive around one crater
• Level 2: drive around two craters
• Level 3: reach the finish zone
• Level 4: run the course twice with the same code

Good code knobs:

• straight distance
• turn degrees
• steering value
• speed

Checkpoint: Did the miss happen because of the straight part or the turn part?

Setup 3: Collect And Return

Best after: Project 10, Project 16.

Put one small object in front of the robot. Use a LEGO package, paper ball, small box, or brick stack. Mark a home zone.

Challenge:

• Level 1: drive to the object
• Level 2: push or grab the object
• Level 3: bring it back to home
• Level 4: repeat with a second object

Good code knobs:

• drive distance
• attachment motor degrees
• open or close speed
• reverse distance

Checkpoint: Which function moves the robot, and which function moves the attachment?

Setup 4: Parking Wall

Best after: Project 07, Project 08, Project 09.

Use a wall, box, book stack, or LEGO bin as the parking target. Mark a target zone with two tape lines or LEGO beams.

Challenge:

• Level 1: beep before the robot gets too close
• Level 2: stop before touching the wall
• Level 3: make the beeps get closer together as the robot gets closer
• Level 4: stop inside the target zone
• Level 5: park correctly three times in a row

Good code knobs:

• close cutoff
• medium cutoff
• too close
• too far
• beep gap time
• motor speed

Checkpoint: What distance number means the robot should react?

Setup 5: Color Stop Lines

Best after: Project 11, Project 15, Project 16.

Use colored LEGO bricks, colored paper, or colored tape as sensor targets. Test the color sensor before building a long course.

Challenge:

• Level 1: print the color reading
• Level 2: react to one color
• Level 3: react differently to two colors
• Level 4: drive until the robot finds the stop color

Good code knobs:

• color name or value
• drive speed
• check delay
• reaction motor

Checkpoint: What did the sensor read when the robot was over the color?

Setup 6: Push Then Dance

Best after: Project 05, Project 13.

Use the force sensor as the start button. The robot should wait until the sensor is pressed, then run a short motion routine.

Challenge:

• Level 1: wait for a press
• Level 2: run one motor after the press
• Level 3: run a repeated routine after the press
• Level 4: make a second press start a different routine

Good code knobs:

• motor speed
• motor degrees
• loop repeats
• pause time

Checkpoint: What line makes the program wait?

Setup 7: Walled Cleanup Area

Best after: Project 06, Project 08, Project 16.

Make a small walled area with books, bins, or boxes. Put one or two objects inside the area.

Challenge:

• Level 1: bounce away from one wall
• Level 2: move an object out of the area
• Level 3: avoid getting stuck in a corner
• Level 4: use a sensor to decide when to stop or turn

Good code knobs:

• forward speed
• reverse degrees
• turn direction
• sensor cutoff

Checkpoint: What tells the robot to stop pushing forward?

Setup 8: Disaster Site Lite

Best after: Project 08, Project 11, Project 16, Project 18.

Make a mini mission area with a start zone, a finish zone, one wall, one object to move, and one do-not-enter zone.

Challenge:

• Level 1: drive from start to finish
• Level 2: move one object on the way
• Level 3: avoid the do-not-enter zone
• Level 4: add a start signal and a success signal

Good code knobs:

• mission function order
• drive distance
• turn amount
• sensor cutoff
• color reaction

Checkpoint: Which small function did you test by itself before running the whole mission?

Setup 9: Smart Bike Gentle Slopes

Best with: Project 17.

Use a wide, stable board close to the floor. Secure it against sliding and tipping. Keep the bike's support wheels. Provide a level starting area and a clear stopping area. Test uphill and downhill on separate routes; a downhill run needs a level upper starting section before the descent.

First show the three slope labels with stationary, supported tilts. Then test the motors on level ground before using a gentle incline. Begin each run level for calibration. Keep the 20-pulse and 20-degree software limits; neither replaces checking that the physical setup is stable. Stop if the bike stalls or slips.

Challenge: show the selected motor speed changing with slope, then tune one speed and compare two runs on the same route.

Checkpoint: Why must the level reading be recorded once before the loop?