Skip to main content
Educational Robotics for All Ages Educational Robotics for All Ages Educational Robotics for All Ages Educational Robotics for All Ages Educational Robotics for All Ages Educational Robotics for All Ages Educational Robotics for All Ages Educational Robotics for All Ages
Coding Starts Early for Grades K+ Coding Starts Early for Grades K+
STEM Starts Early for Grades 3+ STEM Starts Early for Grades 3+
Applied STEM Learning for Grades 6+ Applied STEM Learning for Grades 6+
Real World STEM for Classroom Grades 9+ Real World STEM for Classroom Grades 9+
Invigorating students with a passion for STEM with robotics! Grade 9+ Invigorating students with a passion for STEM with robotics! Grade 9+
Elevating tomorrow's workforce Elevating tomorrow's workforce
Helping FIRST® teams achieve superior performance Helping FIRST® teams achieve superior performance
Get Started
STEM Labs STEM Labs STEM Labs
PD+
Forum
Online Help
Icon Image
Menu Arrow
Icon Image
menu arrow

STEM Labs
Tallest Tower

Teacher Portal

Teacher Toolbox icon Teacher Toolbox - Before the Activity

Review the steps on this page as a whole class before the students begin working on the activity to avoid troubleshooting during the challenge. Allow students access to these steps as they are working through the activity as reference if they begin to experience difficulty getting the platform to shake.

Teacher Tips icon Teacher Tips

Ensure that the robot batteries are charged before beginning the activity. The student in the role of the Builder is also expected to inspect the Earthquake Platform.
Instruct students to make sure there is enough room around their Earthquake Platforms if their structure does fall off of it to avoid collisions with other students.

Connecting the Earthquake Platform

The VEX Earthquake Platform Connected to a VEX IQ Robot Brain

The Builder should check that the Earthquake Platform is ready with a charged battery and that the Smart Motor is properly connected to Port 1 on the VEX IQ Robot Brain.

Powering on your Robot Brain

A VEX IQ Robot Brain With a Circle Around the Check Mark Button (Top Right Button On Brain)
A powered off Robot Brain screen

The Tester can now operate the Robot Brain and press the Check button to power on the Robot Brain.

Opening the Settings menu

The Settings Screen Opened on the VEX IQ Robot Brain
The top-level Settings menu

Press the X button until you arrive at the Settings menu.

Opening the Device Info Menu

The Settings Screen Opened on the VEX IQ Robot Brain With the 'Device Info' Option Selected
The Device Info option

Use the arrow buttons to navigate down to the 'Device Info' selection on the Settings menu and press the Check button.

Viewing a Connected Smart Device

The Device Info Screen Opened on the VEX IQ Robot Brain Displaying Information About the 'Port 1 Motor' With a Message at the Bottom Saying 'Press <Check Mark Button> Starts Motor'
The Device Menu for Port 1 with a Smart Motor connected

You can use the up and down arrows to navigate through the Smart Devices that you have connected.

Activating the Motor

The Device Info Screen Opened on the VEX IQ Robot Brain After Starting the Motor, Displaying Information About the 'Port 1 Motor' With a Message at the Bottom Saying 'Press <Check Mark Button> Stops Motor'
The Device Menu for Port 1 with a Smart Motor connected

The Tester should press the Check button again to activate the motor. Press X to stop it at any time, and press the Check button again to restart it.

<  Back Return to Labs Next  >