Skip to main content
Teacher Portal

Drive Forward and Reverse Exploration - Part 1

Teacher Toolbox icon Teacher Toolbox - Activity Outline

  • This exploration will introduce students to basic drive forward and reverse programming behaviors. Click here (Google Doc / .docx / .pdf) for the outline of this activity.

  • Using the drivetrain robot configuration enables the students to program Autopilot to move forward by just selecting the drive block. For more information about the blocks used, click here.

    Google Doc / .docx / .pdf

Teacher Tips icon Teacher Tips

  • If this is the student’s first time using VEXcode IQ, they can reference the Tutorials at any time during this exploration. The Tutorials are located in the toolbar.

    VEXcode IQ Toolbar with the Tutorials icon called out with a red arrow, to the right of the File menu.

  • Click here (Google Doc / .docx / .pdf) for suggestions for demonstrating how the Drivetrain to drive blocks are related.
  • Make sure each student group has all of the necessary materials.

Autopilot is ready to move!

This exploration will give you the tools to be able to start creating some cool projects for your Autopilot to follow.

  • VEXcode IQ that will be used in this exploration:

VEXcode Drive block with the parameter set to 'forward'.

  • To find out more information about the block, open the Help and then select the [Drive] block.

Help in VEXcode open showing the Help for the Drive block. The Help icon in the upper right corner is highlighted, illustrating what to select to open the Help for a block.

  • The Builder in each group should get the hardware required. The Recorder should get the group’s engineering notebook. The Programmer should open VEXcode IQ.
Materials Required:
Quantity Materials Needed
1

Autopilot Robot
1

Charged Robot Battery
1

VEXcode IQ
1

Engineering Notebook
1

USB Cable (if using a computer)

Teacher Tips icon Teacher Tips

  • Model each of the troubleshooting steps for the students. Remind the students that each group has someone in the role of the builder. That person should be checking these items throughout the exploration.

  • Click here for Autopilot’s motors and sensors configuration.

Step 1: Preparing for the Exploration

Before you begin the activity, do you have each of these items ready? The Builder should check each of the following:

  • Are all the motors and sensors plugged into the correct port?
  • Are the smart cables fully inserted into all of the motors and sensors?
  • Is the Brain turned on?
  • Is the battery charged?

Check out the troubleshooting tutorial if Autopilot does not pass any of these steps.

VEXcode IQ Toolbar with the Tutorials icon called out with a red arrow, to the right of the File menu.

Teacher Tips icon Teacher Tips

  • Since this is a beginning activity with programming, the teacher should model the steps, and then ask the students complete the same actions. The teacher should then monitor the students to ensure that they are following the steps correctly.

  • Make sure that the students have selected Examples from the File menu.

  • Make sure that the students have selected the Autopilot (Drivetrain) Template.

    You can point out to the students that there are several selections to pick from on the Examples page. As they build and use other robots, they will have a chance to use different templates.

  • You can ask students to add their initials or the name of their group to the project name. This will help differentiate the programs if you ask the students to submit them.

Step 2: Start a New Project

Before you begin your project, the Programmer needs to select the correct template project. The Autopilot (Drivetrain) template contains the Autopilot motors and sensors configuration. If the template is not used, your robot will not run the project correctly.

VEXcode IQ Toolbar with the File menu open, and Open Examples highlighted with a red arrow. 'Open Examples' is the fourth item in the menu.

The Programmer should complete the following steps:

  • Open the File menu.
  • Select Open Examples.

  • Use the filter bar at the top of the application and select "Templates."

    Example Project selection window with the Template projects showing.

  • Select and open the Autopilot (Drivetrain) Template.

    Autopilot (Drivetrain) template icon, illustrating which template project to select for this activity.

  • Since we will be using the [Drive] block, rename your project Drive.
  • Save your project.
  • Check to make sure the project name Drive is now in the window in the center of the toolbar.

Teacher Toolbox icon Teacher Toolbox - Saving Projects

Point out that when they first opened VEXcode IQ, the window was labeled VEXcode Project and it was not saved (indicated on the toolbar). VEXcode Project is the default project name when VEXcode IQ is first opened. Once the project was renamed Drive and saved, the display updated to Saved. Using this window in the toolbar, it is easy to check that the students are using the correct project and it is saved.

Once a project is initially saved, VEXcode IQ autosaves any subsequent changes, as indicated by the message next to the project name.

Tell the students that they are now ready to begin their first project. Explain to the students that by just following a few simple steps, they will be able to create and run a project that will move the Autopilot forward.

Teacher Toolbox icon Teacher Toolbox - Stop and Discuss

This is a good point to pause and have the student groups review the steps that were just completed on starting a new project in VEXcode IQ. Click here (Google Doc / .docx /.pdf) for suggestions.

<  Back Return to Labs Next  >