Boe-bots and STEM
Boe-bots and STEM – This sectional will introduce
participants to a programmable robot that is useful for
engaging students in building circuits, problem solving,
and writing computer programs. This project easily
incorporates the science, technology, engineering and
mathematics that is STEM. (8th grade and up)
Matthew 28:19
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…”
STEM
• Science – electricity, circuits, electronics,
computer operations
• Technology – programming a robot with a
computer
• Engineering – constructing a rolling “robot”
and planning for it to accomplish given tasks
• Math – thinking logically, looking for patterns
or using ratios when programming, calculating
speed, RPM’s, etc.
What You Get in a Boe-Bot Kit
Available from www.parallax.com
$159.99 each - may be reused!
Don’t forget to include the cost of batteries!
The “Board of Education”
• Includes a breadboard
to connect LED’s,
capacitors, resistors,
servos
• Plug-in for the “brain”
• Connection to a
computer
• Connection to a power
source (1 - 9 V or 4 AA
batteries)
The BASIC Stamp
• The “brain” of the Boe-bot
• A plug-in microcontroller
• Programmed in PBASIC
Parallax
Beginners
All-Purpose
Instruction
Code
Completed Boe-Bot
Chapter 1: Your Boe-Bot’s Brain
• Downloading &
installing software
• Setting up the hardware
& testing it
• Beginning
programming: DEBUG,
END, Ascii Code
Chapter 2
• Programming with PAUSE,
DO-LOOP, HIGH, LOW,
PULSOUT (more precise
at controlling duration)
• Resistors (Color Bands)
• Diodes and LED’s
• Voltage and circuits
• Causing the LED’s to blink
• microseconds
Chapter 2 (cont.)
• Connecting the servo
motors
• Centering the servo
motors
• Programming with
variables (bits, bytes,
words), FOR – NEXT
• Idea of subsystem testing
• Emphasis on TroubleShooting
' {$STAMP BS2}
' {$PBASIC 2.5}
DEBUG "Program running."
counter VAR Word
FOR counter = 1 TO 122 'clockwise just under 3 sec
PULSOUT 12,650
PAUSE 20
NEXT
FOR counter = 1 TO 40 ' stop 1 sec
PULSOUT 12,750
PAUSE 20
NEXT
FOR counter = 1 TO 122 'counterclockwise 3 sec
PULSOUT 12,850
PAUSE 20
NEXT
END
Chapter 2 (cont.)
Observing the servos
when given different
commands (clockwise,
counterclockwise, speeds)
P13
P12
Description
850
650
Full speed, P13
ccw, P12 cw
650
850
850
850
650
650
750
850
650
750
750
750
760
740
776
730
850
700
800
650
Both stay still
Behavior
Chapter 3
• Assemble the Boe-Bot
(servo motors, power
supply, side wheels, tail
ball, cotter pin)
• Connect parts to the
Board of Education
• Test each wheel
Chapter 3 (cont.)
Piezospeaker
• Introduced to frequency,
hertz, and how voltage
changes can cause
vibrations
• Programming with
FREQOUT
• Some students enjoy
programming it to play a
tune.
• Using the speaker to detect
bownout.
Chapter 3
Pulse Width (ms) Rotational
Velocity(RPM)
1.3
Calculating RPM’s of
wheels.
1.35
1.4
1.45
1.5
1.55
1.6
1.65
1.7
Chapter 4
• The concept of using
the direction the
wheels are turning to
cause the Boe-Bot to
turn.
• Learning to program it
to move backwards,
rotate, and pivot.
Back of Boe-Bot
Chapter 4 (cont.)
• Experimenting with programming to
straighten out the Boe-Bot’s path.
• Gathering data in order to control the distance
traveled by the Boe-Bot.
• Calculating the speed of the Boe-Bot.
• Using subroutines to control the navigation of
the Boe-Bot.
Main Program
' Robotics with the Boe-Bot
' Move forward, left, right, and backward
' {$STAMP BS2}
' {$PBASIC 2.5}
DEBUG "program running."
counter VAR word
FREQOUT 4, 2000, 3000
START/RESET
GOSUB Forward
GOSUB Left
GOSUB Right
GOSUB Backward
END
'SIGNAL PROGRAM
The Subroutines
Forward:
FOR counter = 1 TO 64
PULSOUT 13,850
PULSOUT 12,650
PAUSE 20
next
PAUSE 200
return
Right:
FOR counter = 1 TO 64
PULSOUT 13,850
PULSOUT 12,850
PAUSE 20
next
PAUSE 200
RETURN
Left:
FOR counter = 1 TO 64
PULSOUT 13,650
PULSOUT 12,650
PAUSE 20
next
PAUSE 200
RETURN
Backward:
FOR counter = 1 TO 64
PULSOUT 13,650
PULSOUT 12,850
PAUSE 20
next
PAUSE 200
RETURN
Chapter 5
• Introduced to the idea
of a tactile sensor that
can be programmed to
react to touch.
• Building and testing the
whiskers.
• Programming with IF –
THEN – ELSE – ENDIF
• Programming for “AI”.
Chapter 6
• Introduced to a
photoresistor and the
concept of illuminance.
• Building a photoresistor
circuit and
understanding how it
works (resistors in
series, voltage dividers,
threshold voltage).
• Experimenting with
different voltage
dividers and roaming
towards light.
http://www.parallax.com/
Portals/0/Downloads/mm
/video/boebot/lightfollow
er.mpg
Chapter 7
• The spectrum and its wavelengths.
• Building and testing infrared
transmitter/ detector pairs.
• Testing for object detection and
infrared interference.
• Programming to detect objects and
avoid them.
STEM
• Science – electricity, circuits, electronics,
computer operations
• Technology – programming a robot with a
computer
• Engineering – constructing a rolling “robot”
and planning for it to accomplish given tasks
• Math – thinking logically, looking for patterns
or using ratios when programming, calculating
speed, RPM’s, etc.
Boe-Bots and STEM Concepts!!
The Presenters
Vera Abresch
Christ Lutheran School
Albuquerque, NM
Julie Lemke
St. John’s School
Denver, CO
Middle School Math,
Science & Technology
Middle School
Language Arts & Technology
vkabresch@yahoo.com
julie.lemke@stjohnsdenver.org