Introduction

In the previous Unit, you learned about the safety mechanisms within workcells that reduce hazards and prevent injuries, as well as how the Signal Tower communicates operation status. In this Unit, you will build on that knowledge by learning about how sensors are used within the industrial automation industry, and how to code the Optical Sensor of the CTE Workcell to detect object features.
By the end of the Unit, you will successfully code the EXP Brain, 6-Axis Arm, and Optical Sensor to sort and stack several Disks based on their detected color.
Watch the video below to learn more about what you will be learning and doing in this Unit.
Co-Create Learning Targets
Now that you have watched the video, you know that you will code the 6-Axis Arm to sort disks by color using the Optical Sensor. You will first learn about sensors and their role in industrial automation, specifically how the Optical Sensor detects color and produces numerical data. Then, you will use nested conditional statements to code the EXP Brain to make decisions based on this data. Additionally, you will code the Signal Tower to indicate when human intervention is needed. Finally, you will combine all these skills to create a project that sorts and palletizes six disks by color.
You will co-create learning targets with your group and your teacher to capture these goals, so that you have a shared understanding of your learning goals for the Unit. You will write your learning targets in your engineering notebook so you can refer to them throughout the Unit.
It is helpful to phrase learning targets in the form of "I can" statements. Example learning targets for this Unit could include:
- I can explain the purpose of sensors in industrial manufacturing.
- I can describe how to use data from the Optical Sensor in a VEXcode Project.
- I can describe the project flow in a VEXcode project that has nested conditional statements.
- I can code the EXP Brain, 6-Axis Arm, and Optical Sensor to sort Disks by color.
To create your learning targets, first brainstorm what you will need to know to be able to complete the activities shown in the video above. Make a list in your engineering notebook of what you will need to know, learn, and do, like this:
- Identify what a sensor is.
- Understand the numerical data produced by the Optical Sensor.
- Identify the purpose of nested conditional statements.
- Sequence behaviors to pick up and sort Disks effectively on the pallets.
- Collaborate with my group to complete the Putting It All Together Activity.
Next, co-create learning targets based on your list. Think about how each of the things you listed can be framed into a learning target, using "I can" statements. You can use this template to help you write your learning targets in your engineering notebook. (Google Doc / .docx / .pdf)
For example, the list item, "Sequence behaviors to pick up and sort Disks effectively on the Pallets" can be shifted to a learning target of, I can code the EXP Brain, 6-Axis Arm, and the Optical Sensor to sort and palletize Disks by color.
The following table shows an example of how the Learning Target Organizer in your engineering notebook could be filled out.
Learning Target Category | Learning Targets |
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Knowledge Targets What do I need to know and understand in order to be successful in the Unit? |
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Reasoning Targets What can I do with what I know and understand in order to be successful in the Unit? |
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Skill Targets What can I demonstrate to show I understand the concepts and skills needed to be successful in the Unit? |
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Share your learning targets with your teacher. Adjust them as needed so that you, your group, and your teacher are all in agreement.
Vocabulary
In this Unit, you will learn how to code the EXP Brain, 6-Axis Arm, and Optical Sensor to sort and palletize Disks based on their detected color. This vocabulary list is here to provide reference for any new terms you may come across. Record this vocabulary in your engineering notebook. Use this list as reference as you work through the Unit and encounter words you may not be familiar with.
- Sensor
- A device that collects data from the environment and reports it in a form that can be read and understood.
- Optical Sensor
- A sensor in the CTE Workcell Kit that detects the hue value and proximity of an object.
- Hue Value
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The numerical value associated with each color detected by the Optical Sensor.
- If then block
- A control block that runs the blocks inside, if the Boolean condition is reported to be true.
- Else if block
- A control block that checks for multiple conditions in the same block and runs the blocks inside each branch when that Boolean condition is reported as true.
Quantity | Materials Needed |
---|---|
1 per group |
CTE Workcell Kit |
1 per group |
Computer |
1 per group |
VEXcode EXP |
6 per group |
Disks (3 green, 3 red) |
1 per group |
Cube (optional) |
1 per student |
Engineering Notebook |
Select Next > to move to Lesson 1.