VEX Workcell - Using Variables - Lab 5 - Create Starting Position

Teacher Toolbox - Facilitating the Create Starting Position Page

What the Teacher Will Do:

Instruct students that they will be working together in their groups to follow the steps on this page.
Circle the classroom as students work through the steps on this page and answer any questions that arise.
Students will let you know when they are ready for their check in. Guidance for this check in is provided in a Teacher Toolbox at the bottom of this page.

In VEXcode V5, follow the steps in this video to create the startX, startY, and startZ variables.

For more information on naming rules for variables, view this article from the Knowledge Base.

Follow the steps in this video to set the startX, startY, and startZ variables to the starting coordinate (8, 0, 2).

Follow the steps in this video to code the arm to use linear movements to move to the startX, startY, and startZ starting coordinate.

Download and run the project. The arm will move to the starting coordinate.

If your arm did not move to the starting coordinate, notify your teacher.

Once you have finished coding the arm to move to the starting coordinate, stop the project and check in with your teacher.

Teacher Toolbox - Troubleshooting

If groups are finding that the marker does not reach the expected point on the Workcell when they run their project, try the following troubleshooting techniques.

Change the z-value in the startZ variable.
1. Your dry-erase marker may not reach the surface at point 2. Have students set lower z-values, like 1.5 or 1, and test the project.
Check the mastering values.
1. Instruct students to check that the mastering values they recorded in their engineering notebook during Seek match what is in the [Set mastering] block.
2. If the problem still persists, have students follow the steps in Seek to rerecord their mastering values.
Check the VEXcode V5 project.
1. Have students compare their project to the video on this page and ensure the order of the blocks match. Make sure students are re-downloading their project each time they make a change and before they run the project
Check the build.
1. There may be a mechanical issue with your Workcell. Instruct students to look at the Lab build instructions first and verify that the additions to their Workcell match.
2. Have students go back to the Lab 1 build instructions for a complete look at the build and check that all elements match. Even one small detail being wrong can affect the movement of the arm on the Workcell.

Teacher Toolbox - Check in

Review the following with the group during their check in:

Ensure groups set each of the three variables, using the [Set variable] block, to the starting coordinate (8, 0, 2).

Ensure the marker touches the whiteboard surface when students run the project. If the marker does not come down far enough, tell students to adjust the starting z-value in the [Set variable] block for the startZ variable.