Now that you've finished the build, test what it does. Experiment with your build and then answer these questions in your engineering notebook.
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Describe how you would predict the robot’s behavior would change if theV5 Battery in Build step 21 was attached to the structural metal piece between the V5 motors and the V5 Brain instead of on the other side of the chassis. To aid with this question you can find the balance point for the robot by lifting the robot by the sides of the chassis with your index fingers and moving them forward and backwards until the robot balances on your fingers. Then picture how this would change if you moved the mass of the battery from one side to the other.
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How do you think gravity affects how this robot moves?
Teacher Toolbox
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Acceptable answers would include there would be less weight on the Omni wheels, or the robot will lift the Omni wheels off the ground when it moves or flip over because the balance point (center of gravity) has moved so the wheelbase is no longer as stable. This concept can be re-visited when discussing how changing the weight distribution on the robot will affect the center of gravity.
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The robot needs to maintain a center of gravity (CoG) so that it doesn't tip. Picking up heavier objects would require adding weight or widening the chassis. Any reasonable explanations focused on maintaining CoG should be correct answers.
Extend Your Learning
To expand this activity, ask your students to transform their V5 Clawbot into a space rover by following instructions found here.