Designing a Robot to Navigate a Maze
Title of Lesson: Designing a Robot to Navigate a Maze
Date: Fall 2025
Author's Name: Designer and Dr. David Burghardt
Grade level: 7/8
Content or Subject Area's: Informed engineering design with computer science and computer control
Duration of lesson: 8 days
General Objectives: Students will design, construct and program an autonomous mobile robot equipped with distance sensors and rotation servos to navigate through a predetermined maze course, integrating programming logic, sensor data processing, and mechanical engineering principles to create a path-finding robotic system.
Learning Outcomes: What knowledge, skills, and strategies do you expect students to gain?
(1-4 stated outcomes) After completion of the lessons, students will be able to: (use action verbs)
1. Use the informed engineering design process
2. Apply mechanical engineering principles to design and construct a stable, maneuverable robot platform using rotation servos, wheels, and stabilizing components.
3. Program sensor-based navigation systems using conditional logic, distance sensor data, and servo motor control to enable autonomous obstacle avoidance and path planning.
4. Design, build, and test an autonomous navigation system that integrates hardware construction, sensor programming, and algorithmic thinking to solve complex spatial navigation challenges.
State Standards: (NY Computer Science & Digital Fluency Standards) End of Grade 8:
7-8.CT.4: Write a program using functions or procedures whose names or other documentation convey their purpose within the larger task
7-8.CT.6: Design, compare and refine algorithms for a specific task or within a program
7-8.CT.8: Develop or remix a program that eectively combines one or more control structures for creative expression or to solve a problem
7-8.CT.9: Read and interpret code to predict the outcome of various programs that involve conditionals and repetition for the purposes of debugging
7-8.NSD.2: Design a project that combines hardware and software components
7-8.NSD.3: Identify and fix problems with computing devices and their components using a systematic troubleshooting method or guide
National standards: (ITEEA STEL Standards) End of the 8th Grade:
Standard 1: Students will develop an understanding of the characteristics and scope of technology while learning that technology is the result of human activity; technology is closely linked to creativity and ingenuity.
Standard 3: Students will develop an understanding of engineering design and will learn that engineering design is guided by brainstorming, visualizing, modeling, constructing, testing, and refining designs.
Standard 8: Students will develop an understanding of the attributes of design and will learn that design is a creative planning process that leads to useful products and systems.
Standard 11: Students will develop abilities to apply the design process by identifying criteria and constraints, researching and generating alternative solutions, and evaluating and testing solutions.
Materials and Resources: Provide a list of materials and resources needed to teach the lesson
Physical Materials: Cardboard, tape, Hummingbird Micro:bit controller, battery pack with 4 AA batteries, Hummingbird rotation servos (up to 2) and servo hardware, Hummingbird distance sensors (up to 2), two wheels, ping pong ball for swivel wheel, markers and art supplies, glue gun, scissors, scrap 2x4s for maze construction, computers with Snap programming software
Resources: BirdBrain Technologies tutorials, servo motor programming guides, distance sensor operation manuals, pseudocode examples, maze navigation algorithms, troubleshooting flowcharts, real-world robotics applications in hospitals and automation
Focusing Event: Students observe videos of hospital robots delivering medications and sanitizing facilities, navigating complex hallways autonomously. Discussion: "How do these robots know where to go without hitting walls or people? What sensors and programming allow them to make decisions about turning and stopping?" This introduces the real-world engineering problem of autonomous navigation systems that must process sensor data, make decisions, and execute precise movements in dynamic environments.
Day by day plan
Day 1: Specifications and Constraints (40 minutes) Informed Design Phase: Specifications and Constraints
• Introduce challenge: Design an autonomous robot to navigate through a predetermined maze course
• Review project specifications: robot must use distance sensors, servo - controlled movement, autonomous navigation from start to exit
• Discuss constraints: maze passageways 12 inches wide maximum, limited to 2 rotation servos and 2 distance sensors, battery power limitations
• Introduce assessment rubric and informed engineering design process
• Students document initial understanding of autonomous navigation requirements and technical constraints
Day 2: Developing Knowledge - Mobile Robot Construction (40 minutes) Informed Design Phase: Developing Knowledge
• Learn principles of stable mobile robot design using cardboard chassis construction
• Understanding wheel configuration, servo mounting, and swivel wheel stabilization systems
• Students complete KSB 1: Building a mobile robot following BirdBrain Technologies guidelines
• Practice basic robot assembly techniques and component mounting strategies
• Analyze stability factors and weight distribution for reliable movement
Day 3: Developing Knowledge - Servo Motor Programming and Control (40 minutes) Informed Design Phase: Developing Knowledge (continued)
• Learn rotation servo operation and speed control programming
• Understanding dierential steering using two servos for forward, backward, and turning movements
• Students complete KSB 2, KSB 4, & KSB 5: Servo programming, directional movement, and precise turning
• Practice programming servo coordination for straight-line movement and 90- degree turns
• Calculate timing relationships between servo speed, duration, and precise angular movement
Day 4: Developing Knowledge - Sensor Integration and Obstacle Avoidance (40 minutes) Informed Design Phase: Developing Knowledge (continued)
• Learn distance sensor operation and data processing for obstacle detection
• Understanding sensor range limitations and optimal detection thresholds
• Students complete KSB 3 & KSB 6: Distance sensor programming and obstacle avoidance algorithms
• Practice integrating sensor data with servo responses using conditional logic
• Explore pseudocode development and algorithmic thinking for navigation decisions
Day 5: Ideate Solutions - Navigation Strategy Development (40 minutes) Informed Design Phase: Ideate Solutions
• Students sketch minimum of 3 alternative robot designs and navigation approaches
• Consider dierent chassis configurations, sensor placements, and movement strategies
• Students complete KSB 7: Pseudocode development for maze navigation algorithms
• Document various algorithmic approaches: wall-following, obstacle avoidance, predetermined path sequences
• Brainstorm error handling and recovery strategies for unexpected obstacles
Day 6: Solution Analysis and Optimization (40 minutes) Informed Design Phase: Ideate Solutions (continued)
• Students evaluate alternative designs against specifications and maze requirements
• Select optimal robot design and navigation algorithm using multiple criteria analysis
• Document design trade- os between robot stability, sensor accuracy, and programming complexity
• Plan integration strategy for hardware construction and software development
• Develop comprehensive testing protocols for maze navigation validation
Day 7: Build Prototype - Integration and Testing (40 minutes) Informed Design Phase: Build Prototype
• Construct complete robot system integrating chassis, servos, sensors, and control system
• Program comprehensive navigation algorithm combining movement control and sensor processing
• Test individual subsystems and debug integration issues between hardware and software
• Validate robot performance in simple navigation scenarios before maze testing
• Document construction challenges and programming refinements needed
Day 8: Test, Evaluate, and Refine Design (40 minutes) Informed Design Phase: Test and Evaluate Design + Refine Design
• Complete the assessment rubric self- evaluation from day 1 and justify their selfassessment
• Reflect on the informed engineering design process and lessons they learned