C.A.P.P.S Collective: April 2012

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Biolocomotion

Our Biolocomotion study, using animal locomotion to move through a rice pit, has led to some interesting discussion about what is animal locomotion when translated by a bot and how to measure performance. At this point the performance indicator for our locomotion study is going to take into account three variables: time, distance and current.

All the bots will be timed as they move through 1.5 meters in the rice pit. The current data will be measured at the battery using a vernier current meter connected to a TI Nspire calculator. To get the current from the battery the students are using an in-house hack.

1. aluminum tape is attached to both sides of a piece of paper

2. a wire is connected to either side of the piece of paper

3. place this "wire" between the positive side of the battery and the NXT brick

4. connect a current meter to the wires.

The data collected will then be put into the following Performance Indicator Formula:

Distance / current * Time = Perfomance Indicator

The evolution of the bots continues as well...

Friday, April 13, 2012

New Bots

Monday, April 9, 2012

Octopus Bot

Hexapod

Friday, April 6, 2012

Biomimicry Testing

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Biomimicry and Biomimetics

BIOMIMICRY/BIMIMETICS: GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICAL EXAMPLES

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

New C.A.P.P.S Logo

Locomotory Challenge

The C.A.P.P.S. class is going to explore the field of BIOMIMETICS. Biomimetics is the study of the structure and function of biological systems as models for the design and engineering of materials and machines. It is widely regarded as being synonymous with biomimicry, biomimesis, biognosis and similar to biologically inspired design.

The objective is to engineer an autonomous LEGO NXT robot that can travel the farthest and fastest over a rice track.