Research Paper: Method and Materials

The Method and Materials section of a Paper is basically a paragraph format of a the list of items used in the process of the experiment. This section is included mainly so that other scientest can easily recreate the experiment.

It is necessary to follow precise steps in the creation of our three robots. We created each robot with unique designs to perform specific tasks. The first robot to function in our experiment is the "Rover-Bot." Resembling the "Steer-Bot", the Rover-Bot has additional features that allow it to pick up ping-pong balls with ease. The next robot that we will use in our experiment is the "Crane-Bot". This robot functions as a stationary crane and transfers ping-pong balls from our Rover-Bot to our next robot, the "Sort-Bot". Our Sort-Bot's "sorter" will separate the ping-pong balls by color and put them into one of three cans. The process will continue until all three ping-pong balls are found and transported to their respected bins.

The Rover-Bot is one of the more agile and speedy of the three robots. Designed to quickly seek out ping-pong balls in a maze, it moves smoothly through its environment without running off course. This robot uses its light sensor and the IR signal on its RCX to sense the objects before it makes contact with them. In addition, due to its resemblance to the Steer-Bot, the Rover-Bot will use "rack-and-pinion" steering, which is often used in automobiles. Unlike other LEGO robots, this design uses one motor for locomotion and another for steering. The largest difference between the Rover-Bot and the Steer-Bot is its ping-pong holder and arm to gather and move the ping-pong balls. The arm consists of one motor, which allows it to pick up the balls and dump them on a track made of LEGOS. This track uses its downward slope to transport the ping-pong balls into the behind container without consuming energy. The container is small and therefore limited to only one ping-pong ball at a time.

The programming for the robot is a little more complicated than that of other robots, for it uses differentials, but it all pays off with its smooth movements. Once an object is sensed, the robot will turn away from it in a random direction and continue its function of searching for ping-pong balls. The arm used to pick up the ping-pong balls will be like a scooper, for it will scoop the ball into its ball-holder, located behind its RCX.

The next robot to function in this experiment is the "Crane-Bot". The Crane-Bot consists of a large robotic arm and a stationary base. The large base is constructed of the standard LEGO blocks with additional four wheels on the underside for both grip and structure. The arm has four finger-like structures with treads on the end allowing for superior grip. Although this allows for the transportation of large objects it must use a pulley system rather than a gear system to move up and down. A structure protrudes in the other direction of the arm, which allows for counter balance and is also the location of the motor and string. Its remarkable design allows for both balance and considerably smooth movements (considering its weight) from one location to another. All three motors are utilized in its main task. The first motor is used for the opening and closing of the claws around the ping-pong balls. The second motor is used for the up and down motions of the robotic arm. Lastly, the third motor is used to swivel around the base allowing for a full 360-degree rotation. In addition there are light sensors that allows it to easily interact with the other two robots. The main function of the Crane-Bot is to collect ping-pong balls from the Rover-Bot and transport them to the Sort-Bot.

The Sort-Bot is the last to participate in this experiment. Following the Crane-Bot’s transferring of ping-pong balls, the Sort-Bot uses its "sorting capabilities" to place the ball into one of three cans. The Main structure, which rests on a large platform base, is tilted which allows the ping-pong ball to move without the consumption energy. The track changes using LEGO arm-like pieces to direct the movement of each ping-pong ball corresponding to its specific color. At the end of each track there are little cans made of LEGOS, which stores each ping-pong ball. A yellow ball would go straight and enter the can labeled "Green-Can". A blue ball would go to the right and into a can labeled "White-Can". A black ball would continue down the track and then drop into the last can labeled "Black-Can". When all three ping-pong balls are sorted, the robot will stop.

Together, the Rover-Bot, the Crane-Bot, and the Sort-Bot will work and communicate with each other to move and sort the three ping-pong balls from point A to point B without human intervention.