Solutions: Letters of the alphabet

Here is a set of solutions for the "Letters of the alphabet" assignment. Do keep in mind that this is just a subset of possible solutions. Depending on the start point chosen and the direction in which Pro-Bot is facing, you can have multiple solutions for each figure.

For each letter, I have marked the starting point in the figure on the right. The Pro-Bot is assumed to face forward at the starting point in each case.

All dimensions are in cm.


Letter T:
Fd 12
Bk 6
Rt

Fd 12

Letter I:
Fd 12
Bk 6
Rt
Fd 12
Rt
Fd 6
Bk 12

Letter J:
Fd 12
Bk 6
Rt
Fd 12
Rt
Fd 6

Letter F:
Fd 6
Rt
Fd 6
Bk 6
Lt
Fd 6
Rt
Fd 12

Letter E:
Fd 12
Rt
Fd 6
Rt
Fd 6
Bk 6
Lt
Fd 6
Rt
Fd 12

Pro-Bot Programming Assignment 2: Letters of the alphabet

This is our second programming assignment:  Using Pro-Bot, trace the following letters of the English alphabet.

Each of the short sides of the figures measure 6 cm each. The long sides measure 12 cm each. 

We shall use only right angles for each tracing each figure, hence there is no need to specify the angle measurements along with the "Lt" or "Rt" (Left or Right) instructions.  

I used this as an optional assignment along with the one to trace the digital numbers. It was intended to provide a bit more practice to those students who were quick to finish the first assignment. It again focuses on using the Forward, Backward, Left and Right arrow keys and specifying the distances in cm. 

If this is an older class where children are familiar with angular measurements, you can try drawing various other letters that use angles other than 90 degrees.

All measurements in the figure below are in centimeters.

Here is a set of solutions to this assignment.

Solutions: Tracing Digital Numbers

Here is a set of solutions for the "Tracing Digital Numbers" assignment. Do keep in mind that this is just a subset of possible solutions. Depending on the start point chosen and the direction in which Pro-Bot is facing, you can have multiple solutions for each figure.

For each digital number, I have marked the starting point in the figure on the right. The Pro-Bot is assumed to face forward at the starting point in each case.

All dimensions are in cm.

Number 1:
Fd 12

Number 2:
Fd 6
Rt
Fd 6
Rt
Fd 6
Lt
Fd 6
Lt
Fd 6

Number 3:
Fd 6
Lt
Fd 6
Rt
Bk 6
Fd 6
Lt
Fd 6
Lt
Fd 6

Number 4:
Fd 12
Bk 6
Lt
Fd 6
Rt
Fd 6

Number 5:
Fd 6
Lt
Fd 6
Lt
Fd 6
Rt
Fd 6
Rt
Fd 6

Number 6:
Fd 6
Lt
Fd 12
Lt

Fd 6

Lt
Fd 6
Lt
Fd 6

Number 7:
Fd 12
Lt
Fd 6

Number 8:
Fd 6
Lt
Fd 6
Rt
Bk 6
Fd 6
Lt
Fd 6
Lt
Fd 6
Lt
Fd 12

Number 9:
Fd 6
Lt
Fd 12
Lt
Fd 6
Lt
Fd 6
Lt
Fd 6

Number 0:
Fd 6
Lt
Fd 12
Lt
Fd 6
Lt
Fd 12

Pro-Bot Programming Assignment 1: Tracing Digital Numbers

Here is our first assignment:  Using Pro-Bot, trace the numbers from 0 to 9 as they would appear on a digital clock.

Each of the short sides of the figures measure 6 cm each. The long sides measure 12 cm each. 

We shall use only right angles for tracing each number, hence there is no need to specify the angle measurements along with the "Lt" or "Rt" (Left or Right) instructions. 

This project is intended to provide familiarity with using the Forward, Backward, Left and Right arrow keys and specifying distances in cm. It also provides a good exercise in breaking down a problem into smaller steps, finding a solution to each step and testing it along the way. 

I also find that it is helpful to specify the start and end points for each figure, especially for younger children. 

Here is a set of solutions to the assignment.

A Recipe to Design a Program for Pro-Bot

Here is a recipe to design a program for Pro-Bot.

1.   Understand the problem given. 

     Write down the requirements.

2.   Think about the problem!!!

     Discuss with your team members. Try to imagine what your Pro-Bot should do…. Can you draw it out on paper, for example?

3.   Solve your problem in small steps; do not tackle the entire problem all at once. When you create your program, do it step by step.

4.   Write down your program on paper.

     To see if it meets the requirements, you could pretend to be Pro-Bot yourself and act out the various steps from your program.

Fix any errors (mistakes) that you may find.

5.   Now, program your robot. As you do it, you can see the instructions from your program on Pro-Bot’s LCD screen.

6.   Test, test, test!!! See if it works!

     Test your program on the robot to see if it works as required. Follow the instructions of your program on the LCD screen as it executes. If something goes wrong, it will help you identify the wrong instruction that caused it.

7.   Fix your errors if any and try again.

8.   Add in extra features, if required.

Important Tips:

·      Solve the problem in small steps; do not tackle the entire problem all at once.

·      As you develop the program for each part of your solution, test it. Make sure each part works correctly; add it to the existing one and then move on to the next part.

·      You do not always need to rewrite the program from the beginning, each time you find a mistake. Often you need to fix only the parts that are not working correctly.

·      There may be different solutions to the same problem. Try to choose the best one that meets the requirements.

.    Now, the most important one, HAVE FUN with Pro-Bot!!!

Introducing Pro-Bot to kids

Pro-Bot is a floor robot from Terrapin. It can be programmed to draw figures or trace paths. Pro-Bot is controlled by a computer inside of it. 

Before we go into the details of Pro-Bot, let's quickly look at what a computer is.  A computer is a machine that can perform tasks according to the instructions given to it. It can take data, store it and do calculations with it. The instructions to a computer are typically given in the form of a "program". A computer can only do the tasks for which it has been programmed.

For most people, the word computer brings to mind the image of a laptop, or the box and the screen sitting on a desk top. But computers don’t always look like that. Computers, big or small, are present in so many more things that you are familiar with: tablets (like the iPad), cell phones, video games, music systems, cars, trains, ships, airplanes, space shuttles, TV, microwave, electronic toys… and of course robots, including your Pro-Bot.

A couple of words that you commonly hear in relation to computers is Hardware and Software.

Hardware refers to the parts of a computer that you can touch and feel. For a desktop computer or a laptop, the screen (monitor), keyboard, mouse, headphones, cables, circuit boards, etc., are all part of hardware. For your Pro-Bot, the keypad, LCD screen, digital circuits, power supplies, etc., are part of its hardware.

Software refers to the programs that tell the computer to perform its tasks. Of course it is not something that you can touch and feel like the hardware (though you can see it, read it and write it). The programs that you write for your Pro-Bot is part of its software.

Pro-Bot uses a computer language called Logo. The programs that you write for Pro-Bot will use instructions written in Logo. Pro-Bot has arrow keys, number keys and a few special keys mounted on its back that you will use for creating the programs. The instructions that you type in will be visible on Pro-Bot's LCD screen. Pro-Bot will follow the sequence of instructions in the order that they were entered, one at a time.

More product information on Pro-Bot can be found here:
http://www.bee-bot.us/probot.html