Design Process

  1. Define the Problem: Program a Virtual Robot to navigate a course that emulates escaping after a structural damage from a natural or man-made disaster.

  2. Generate Alternative Solutions:

  • Program the robot to escape a specific zone using light sensors.

  • Program the robot to escape ANY zone by using light sensors.

  • Program the robot to escape a specific zone by using only code with no sensors.

  1. Evaluate and select a solution: Before selecting a route to follow, we brainstormed over Zoom to talk about how we would go about solving the problem. We decided to program the robot to escape a specific zone using light sensors so that the robot could escape the natural or man-made disaster faster.

  2. Detail the Design: We decided to configure our code to the Buggybot. We designed our own course using the RVW Builder. First, each group member drew out their idea for the course on a piece of paper and then we combined everyone's ideas to create one course. Once we created the course, we coded the robot on the VMware "RobotC for VEX Robotics." After multiple trials, we found the code that works for our robot.

  3. Defend the Design: Reusing the code multiple times, we figured that the code was the best that it could be.

  4. Manufacture and Test: Since this could only be done virtually, the robot was manufactured virtually, and we tested the program as we went.

  5. Evaluate the Performance: On our evaluation response sheet, we talked about all of our successes and obstacles that we overcame.

  6. Prepare the Final Design Report: We spent almost all of Thursday (our last workday) reviewing and perfecting our project.