Lesson Overview

The purpose of this lesson is to teach students the basic concepts of DC motors, how to change variable values in Arduino, and how to simulate outputs. Students will learn: 

• How a DC motor works

• How to map inputs to outputs on the Arduino

• Simulate the motor output using the serial monitor

Required Kit Supplies

• Your fully wired MESA Combat Robot

  • Remove batteries before starting the activity

• 1x USB A-to-USB B upload cable

• 1x FlySky Controller

Additional Required Supplies 

• Chromebook or laptop for each student

  • Access to Arduino web editor (https://app.arduino.cc) with Arduino Create Agent installed or the Arduino IDE

  • Instructions on how to use the Arduino web editor here.

Keywords

• DC motor: A type of motor that uses permanent magnets and electromagnets to turn with a constant power source supply

• Electromagnet: A magnet which “turns on” when current is supplied

• Polarity: The direction of an electrical component. Reversing the polarity is swapping the positive and negative direction of the component.

• Mapping: the process of converting numbers from an input range of numbers to an output range of numbers. This is a mathematical process which makes a conversion equation with the input limits and output limits.

• Simulate: a way to test a component, code, or system without testing the physical components.