The Recycling Robot
Objectives:
01
To help students understand the recycling process and its importance.
02
Learn to build and program a robot to recognize and transport recycling bins to the correct bins.
03
To develop collaboration and creative thinking to solve problems through robotics.
Materials:
Makerzoid Programmable Toys Robot Master Set, 200-in-1 Coding Robot Kit
Colored boxes
(small plastic or paper packages that will represent different types of garbage: blue for glass, red for aluminum, yellow for plastic, etc.)
Recycling bins
(you can use small plastic boxes or even plastic cups in different colors to represent the bins for each material)
Programming software (Scratch/Blockly)
for the programmed guidance of the robot
Duration:
Course Duration:
1.5 - 2 hours
Robot Construction Duration:
30 minutes
Duration of Programming and Testing:
45 - 60 minutes
Instructions for the Instructor:
1. Introduction to Recycling and the Scenario (10 minutes)
Purpose:
Explain the importance of recycling and how robotics can help in this process.
What to do:
- Start the presentation with a brief discussion about recycling.
Ask students if they know what recycling is and what materials are recycled (e.g., glass, aluminum, plastic).
- Show them the categories of trash they should recognize: blue for glass, red for aluminum, yellow for plastic, etc.
- Then, mention that they will build a robot that will transport the recycling cans to the correct bins.
2. Building the Robot (30 minutes):
Purpose:
Have students build a robot that can move and transport the cans to the recycling bins.
What to do:
- Give students the Makerzoid kit and explain its basic parts: motors, sensors, and the central controller.
- Guide them through building the robot step by step. They will need motors to move the robot and possibly a
mechanism to grip the cans (e.g., a small arm or plastic slot).
- Can you show how to place the infrared sensor on the
front of the robot so it can detect the boxes
recycling and react accordingly.
3. Programming the Robot (45 - 60 minutes)
Purpose:
Program the robot to recognize the boxes and place them in the correct bins.
What to do:
If you're using Scratch or Blockly, start with a simple movement command: "Move forward"
- Program the robot to detect the boxes with the infrared sensor. Once the robot detects a box, it must
stop and "catch" it with its arm or mechanism.
- Then, the robot should move towards the correct bin (depending on the color of the box). For example, if the robot detects a blue box (glass), it will move towards the blue bin.
- Create a series of “conditions” in the programming so that the robot recognizes the color of the box and understands which bin to visit.
- Give students the opportunity to experiment with commands and
movements of the robot. You can create difficulties by adding
obstacles that the robot must avoid while carrying the boxes.
4. Activity: Garbage Transportation (15 minutes)
Purpose:
Implement in practice the process of transporting recycling boxes to the corresponding bins.
What to do:
Set up a “recycling lane” on the classroom floor or table, placing colored boxes and bins in various locations.
- Ask students to use their robot to
they transport the boxes to the correct bins.
- Students should observe whether their robot is able to
to locate and transport the boxes efficiently. If not, it will
they need to adjust their planning.
5. Discussion and Feedback (10 minutes)
Purpose:
To help students understand the importance of recycling and the value of cooperation.
What to do:
Discuss with students the difficulties they encountered while building and programming their robot.
- Explain to them how robotics can contribute to savings
time and resources in recycling. - Discuss how recycling helps the environment and how we can
to make better use of our resources.
Conclusions:
Students will learn about the recycling process and ecological awareness, while also practicing their robotics and programming skills.
They will understand the importance of cooperation and recycling in protecting the environment, in a practical and fun way.
Download our ultimate guide for FREE
and give your children a head start in knowledge!
In this e-book you will find how gaming can turn learning into a fun and effective experience.
You will learn how to choose the right educational toys, how they enhance creativity, critical thinking and STEM skills, as well as practical ideas for incorporating them into everyday life.
Discover how learning through play can benefit children, helping them develop self-confidence, problem-solving and collaboration.
Fill in your details and get the e-Book for free here now!