Time to level up your driving skills! In this lesson, you’ll explore more ways to control your VEX AIM Coding Robot using the One Stick Controller. You’ll discover how the AI Vision Sensor helps pick up objects automatically and how to use the Left and Right buttons to move side to side—key skills for collecting and placing barrels.
Watch the video below to learn more about using the Drive mode including:
- Picking up objects using the AI Vision Sensor.
- How to use the Left and Right buttons to move side-to-side.
Now that you have watched the video, capture your thoughts in your journal. Use these questions to guide you:
- What do you notice about the robot's movement with the buttons? Write at least two observations.
- What did you see in the video that supports your ideas?
- Write down at least two questions that you have about using the buttons on the controller to collect and move barrels.
- Do you think joystick control or button control will be a better strategy for you? Why?
You will use your answers to help you participate in the whole-class discussion.
Now that you have watched the video, capture your thoughts in your journal. Use these questions to guide you:
- What do you notice about the robot's movement with the buttons? Write at least two observations.
- What did you see in the video that supports your ideas?
- Write down at least two questions that you have about using the buttons on the controller to collect and move barrels.
- Do you think joystick control or button control will be a better strategy for you? Why?
You will use your answers to help you participate in the whole-class discussion.
In a whole-class discussion, encourage students to share their observations, questions, and impressions. Tie their learning to their prior knowledge from Lesson 1. Use student answers to the questions provided as the basis for discussion.
Remember, your goal in this discussion is promoting divergent thinking. Allow time to hear as many different ideas as possible during the discussion. Remind students to respond to and build upon what others have said, using phrases like:
- To add onto that…
- In contrast…
- I agree/disagree, because…
- I wonder ____ because…
Identify key terms that students use during the discussion that you can define together to help students share a common language.
Note: This lesson will introduce students to the AI Vision Sensor. They will continue to learn about the sensor's features and functionality throughout this course. Encourage students to ask questions and be curious about the sensor as they complete the lesson.
Guided Practice
Now that you have seen and talked about using the AI Vision Sensor with Drive mode, it’s your turn to practice!
Step 1: Set up the field as shown here.
Step 2: Start the activity.
- Your task is to drive the robot to place three orange barrels at AprilTag ID 2 and three blue barrels at AprilTag ID 3.
- Use this task card (Google / .docx / .pdf) to guide your practice.
- Pro Tip: Document the joystick diagram on your task card and record each button's action.
Resources for Practice:
The articles linked here are available if you need additional support while completing the activity.
Now that you have seen and talked about using the AI Vision Sensor with Drive mode, it’s your turn to practice!
Step 1: Set up the field as shown here.
Step 2: Start the activity.
- Your task is to drive the robot to place three orange barrels at AprilTag ID 2 and three blue barrels at AprilTag ID 3.
- Use this task card (Google / .docx / .pdf) to guide your practice.
- Pro Tip: Document the joystick diagram on your task card and record each button's action.
Resources for Practice:
The articles linked here are available if you need additional support while completing the activity.
Foreground the student expectations at the start. Ask questions like:
- Can you explain the activity in your own words?
- How is your group going to get started?
- What is something you can do to be helpful if it is not your turn to drive?
Distribute task cards to each student. Remember, the provided task card (Google / .docx / .pdf) is the basis for this guided practice, and can be adapted to best meet the needs of your students. Here are some additional key points about using task cards:
- Encourage students to check off the items in the Practice Checklist to help them monitor their progress during the activity.
- Remind students to try the Feeling Stuck? strategy if they need help or additional support.
- Students should use the Success Criteria to help them communicate when they are ready for a teacher check-in to share their practice.
To learn more about the task card, view this article.
Circulate around the room as students engage in the practice activity in their groups to discuss student progress and understanding. Ask questions like:
- What happens when you press the Up button on your controller?
- Do you think the order in which you pick up the barrels matters? Why or why not?
- How is your driving in this activity similar or different to your driving in Lesson 1?
Wrap-Up
Now that you have practiced using the Drive mode, it is time to share what you learned. Answer the following questions in your journal. You will use your answers in a whole-class discussion.
- What was your strategy for completing the task? Why do you think it was successful? How could it be improved?
- Which button and feature did you use on the robot to complete this challenge?
Now that you have practiced using the Drive mode, it is time to share what you learned. Answer the following questions in your journal. You will use your answers in a whole-class discussion.
- What was your strategy for completing the task? Why do you think it was successful? How could it be improved?
- Which button and feature did you use on the robot to complete this challenge?
Guide students to share their learning in a whole-class discussion. Help students reflect on their learning through practice to converge on shared understanding or learning targets.
Use the questions students answered in their journals as the starting point for the discussion. As you listen to students' contributions, ask follow up questions to guide their understanding:
- For strategy sharing:
- Did your group approach the task similarly or differently? Do you think your strategy was better or worse? Why? What evidence do you have to support that assertion?
- For features:
- How did the button and feature you used help you complete the challenge?
- Did you try different buttons or features before deciding on the one you used? Why or why not?
- How do you think this feature could be used in a different challenge or real-world situation?
Revisit your shared map of the controller, and label the buttons with their functionality, to help create a tangible artifact that demonstrates students' convergent thinking about the Drive mode. Students can reference this in the unit challenge.
Select Next > to move on to the Unit Challenge.