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...

Biolocomotion