Gates Robotics Class

Robotics by Mr. Carrison

Time is running out to be able to make up the electric motor project and the test grade for The Incredible Machine.  PPLLAANN accordingly!

Safety Test Mon/Tues  Nov. 14th/15th

The following was taken from the VEX web site: 

Safety is no accident  (Sound familiar? - Interesting they should start with this statement!!!) 

While the VEX development system itself is not inherently dangerous to use, anyone working with metal parts and tools needs to have a safe attitude and work in safe ways. The most important aspect of safety is to think safety at all times. It is well-known in workshops that safety starts with being aware of your work space and being sensitive to dangerous behaviors and materials. Purposefully use safety gear and follow safe practices to insure your own well-being.

Safety is not just about following rules, it’s about doing work in a way that is safe. Most of the time if you think you are behaving unsafely, you are. Stop and think before you act. The most important safety tool of all is your head. Remember: your attitude affects your behavior. If you have a positive attitude you will likely exhibit safe behavior. A negative attitude toward safety will cause carelessness, inattention, and injury.

Before working on your robot, go through these steps in your mind:

Do I have necessary safety gear such as safety glasses and hearing protection?

Is this the safest way to do this task?

Am I using the correct tools? Using the wrong tool is frequently more dangerous than using the correct one.

Are the parts secured correctly when cutting or bending? Use a vise or clamp – not your fingers.

Safety Rules:

No horseplay! Workshops are no place for irresponsible behavior such as running around, “swordfights,” throwing parts, or pushing people.

Always wear safety glasses when cutting or bending structural parts.

Wear safety glasses, even if you wear normal eyeglasses. Unless you have had them specially made, eyeglasses do not offer sufficient protection from shrapnel or flying debris, and do not usually protect the eyes against debris coming from the side.

Always wear safety glasses around operating robots, and any time a battery is hooked up. Moving robot mechanisms can “sneak up on you” when you do not expect it.

Wear hearing protection when using power tools such as a Dremel or grinder. It does not take much noise to cause hearing loss.

Study all safety rules carefully and constantly apply them. When in doubt about any task, get help! DO NOT take chances!  (if in doubt ASK for clarification)

Read, understand and follow the safety instructions that come with your tools. Complete safety rules for power tools would take hundreds of pages, so please refer to your tool’s manual or the OSHA power tool safety guidelines at www.osha.gov.

Always dress properly for the shop. Avoid wearing loose fitting clothing, tie up or cover long hair, and remove rings and other jewelry when using power tools. Do not wear gloves when operating power tools.

Watch your hair, fingers, and tools around robots. Even the plastic gears and chains in a VEX robot can cause painful injuries if you are not careful. Long hair is especially dangerous around operating robots so keep it under control.

Be aware of what others are doing. Safety is everyone’s responsibility – both individually and collectively.

Report unsafe conditions or practices.

Keep the shop clean. Metal scraps should be disposed of in a waste bin or recycling container. Never allow scraps to remain on the bench or floor. Removing trash and debris reduces slipping and falling and generally promotes a safe work environment.

Learn how to use your tools properly. It is foolish to operate tools without first receiving proper instructions. This applies to even the small power and hand tools used in VEX robotics. Get help if you are not sure what must be done or how a task should be performed.

Keep the VEX parts out of your mouth, ears, nose, etc. It’s a robot, not a snack.

Do not short out the batteries by running a wire between the battery terminals. This can cause fire, ruined batteries, and/or explosion.

Use batteries wisely. Do not lick batteries, or put terminals in your mouth. If a battery appears to be leaking or has a crystalline deposit on the outside, dispose of it immediately and wear gloves – preferably made of nitrile or other non-reactive material – when handling.

Dispose of worn-out batteries responsibly and safely. Do not throw batteries into the trash, especially rechargeable batteries. Contact your local waste disposal office for information on battery disposal. Batteries should be stored as directed by your local hazardous materials disposal office until pickup, usually in a hard-sided, waterproof, non-conductive container, such as a plastic bucket.

Antennas are not a toy. Do not use them as whips or swords, and do not put them into your mouth, eyes, ears, or nose. If the blunt tip breaks off the tip of your antenna, dispose of the antenna and replace it with a new one.

Above taken from VEX site

You might also want to review any hardware and parts you have used so far in assembling your robot as some of

 this also be on the test!

Review the crossword Safety Puzzle.

Review your notes.

Review the sheet VEX Robot Boot Camp
sheet handed out in class.

How do you properly measure a bolt for length?

 How is the length of the above machine screw measured for LENGTH?

Which of the above is a keps nut?

Which is the nylock nut?

  Can you pick out a chassis rail, angle and flat bar?  You learned these on LearnMate.

Can you id a combination wrench?

How about a cressant wrench?

What other wrenches were used in the assembly of your robot?

What should you do if you smell a burning odor while running your robot?

What are the wood blocks used for?

What is the name of the software program we use in class?

Motors and servos should never be ???????  

Yu should not ???????? your robot when you are not watching it?

WHO is responsible for your safety?

Is safety a full or part time job?

Mr. Carrison like the poster - Safety is no XXXXXX

True of False - Safety is not joke.

Remember.... Adam Rules!!!!


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Thursday at 2:30 Oct 27 my grade book will be TOTALLY up to date.  Plan accordingly!!!  All work not made up = ZERO.  You have had more than a week's notice and this was extended from Tuesday!

Parents please check edline

Incrediable Machine Test Grade
28+ levels = A+
22= B
18 = C
<16 = D
< 12 =F
You will hopefully be able to finish this up next week in Robotics lab a minute or two here and there.  Probably BEST is you come after school or during PB or a study and finish up what could be an easy A+ IF you put int he effort.

Open another EXPLORER window so you can follow the directions below to get into VoiceThread.

Next type in the URL  VOICETHREAD.COM 
Look in the upper rt for Sign In

Sign in this way:

     email = yourfirstand lastname@gates.ed.voicethread.com

     semi-secret password =  gispword

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Direct link to VoiceThread = http://voicethread.com/

Want some extra credit?  Take a video with a cell phone, post it to this site and make a voice narrative of what it is, the battery/power source size and three tips you would give someone trying to pull the motor project off.  Be sure to tag it somewhere as 10-135 Electric Motor Kit.  You will need a computer mic to make a voice recording unless you are using an Apple computer.

                                                                                         What is it worth?  How about up to 15 points added to your electric motor lab grade!  For that you kkkkknow I will be looking for a GOOD/GREAT job!     

Attention:  Since many teams are still about 30 minutes from getting their motors working I will give ALL classes ONE more day to complete their electric motor kit.  That means Day 1 Robotics classes will have until the END of next Thursday's class to get their team's motor purring.  Day 2 Robotics classes will have until the END of next Wednesday's class to have their motor spinning away.  Any teams needing more time will have to see me after school to complete their motor within a couple of days.

Study Guide for this coming Friday's Electricity Test

Have you reviewed your pre-test?

Hopefully you took the time and effort to take notes during class and on the day I covered most of the electrical terms???  I would review these notes or find someone who will share these notes with you.

Review all the motor kit parts.  Check out this semi-cool link on our motor kit!

What is the symbol of ohms?

What was that VERY large number we talked about?  It was mega huge!  What was it all about?

Do you know conductor and insulator?

Could you explain VOLTAGE and AMPERAGE to a 5 year old?  If you can then you own these two concepts!

What is RESISTANCE?  Is it like a kink in the hose or is it like the volume of water flowing from a garden hose or like the pressure of the water?



Tell me what an ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT is. 
What was the voltage of the power source used in our electric motor kit?

CONTINUITY?  What the heck is that?

We talked about what caused our shiny copper wire ends to turn dull and corrode.  Check your notes as to what caused this chemical change.

When thinking of electricity as water flowing from a hose...... what is VOLTAGE, what is AMPERAGE and what is RESISTANCE?  Which is like the volume of water flowing from a garden hose?  Which is like the pressure of the water coming from the hose end?  Which is similar to a kink in the hose or stepping on the middle of the hose which slows down the water coming out of the hose?



Check out this link for a good review of electricity fundamentals. 
YOUTUBE.COM (sorry, the brainpop.com link needs codes to work - thanks and a tip of the hat to A.K.!) )

Remember that you may used your OWN hand (you have two) written notes.  This does NOT mean typed notes!

Learn to Earn!