SIH Level 4 - Robotics Kit

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STEM Innovators Book Level 4 Copyright © 2024 Author: Erin Goodwin Editors: Asma Mahamedi, Hari Mukul Sagar and Rebecca McDowell ISBN: 978-981-17494-6-9 Published by: SKOOL21 PTE. LTD. - Singapore DUO Tower, Level 8 #831 3 Fraser Street, 189352, Singapore All rights reserved, first edition 2024.

No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

For permissions or inquiries, please contact: Email: info@skool21.org Website: https://skool21.org

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Preface Welcome to the Future of Learning!

Get ready to explore, build, and imagine like never before! The SKOOL21 STEM Innovators series takes you on an exciting adventure through science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Whether you’re just starting out or already a curious creator, these books are designed to help you think big, solve problems, and invent new ideas that could change the world.

Building on a Strong Foundation: From learning how simple machines work to designing with 3D models, each book builds on the one before it. You’ll travel through time—learning about cool inventions from the Industrial Revolution and creating your own along the way. No matter your grade, there’s something new and exciting to discover.

Learning by Doing: This isn’t just about reading or watching—this is about doing. Each book comes with a STEM kit full of tools and materials so you and your group can jump into hands-on challenges. You’ll build, test, explore, and learn by making things with your own two hands!

Real-World Impact:

Your ideas matter. Every project in this series connects to real problems people around the world are working to solve—like clean water, sustainable energy, and protecting nature. These challenges are based on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and your creations could help make the world a better place.

You’re Learning Like a Pro: The SKOOL21 STEM series is trusted by experts and based on international standards.

That means you’re learning the same problem-solving, teamwork, and design skills that real scientists and engineers use every day. You’re not just doing schoolwork— you’re getting ready to shape the future.

Embrace the spirit of innovation, ignite curiosity and empower the next generation of problem solvers with the SKOOL21 STEM Innovators series!

Happy Innovating!

03

Introduction to the Kit S

Component

1

Micro:bit

2

USB cable

3

Expansion board

4

Soil sensor

5

Color sensor

6

Temperature and humidity sensor

7

Potentiometer

8

Ultrasonic sensor

9

Infrared module

10

Building blocks

11

Motor

12

Servo

Image

04

Table of Contents S. NO

STEM PROJECTS

SDG

PAGE NO.

I

THE LED PAD

07

II

THE ACCELEROMETER AND MUSIC

09

III

THE POTENTIOMETER

10

IV

INPUTS AND OUTPUTS

11

1

SMART SHOES

13

2

SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR

23

3

SEISMOGRAPH

32

4

MARS ROVER

41

5

SMART PARKING BARRIER

51

6

JOINT SIMULATOR

60

7

ENERGY-SAVING FAN

69

8

LINE-FOLLOWING ROBOT

78

9

TEMPERATURE MONITOR

88

10

COLOR DETECTOR

97

11

WEATHER STATION

107

12

AUTOMATIC NIGHT LIGHT

116

13

BURGLAR ALARM

125

14

ENERGY PREDICTOR

134

15

NO TOUCH DOORBELL

143

C

CAPSTONE PROJECT

152 05

Intro to micro:bit The micro:bit is a programmable chip that can read in information from sensors and send power out to motors and lights with its pin connections.

The pins can either be connected directly with alligator clips or can be inserted into an expansion board, such as the one that comes with this book, to create up to 25 pin connections. The expansion board makes it easy to connect the ports to other devices such as motors and sensors.

06

Lesson 1: The LED Pad

1. Navigate to makecode.microbit.org on Google Chrome, if possible, since it works best for connecting the device. MakeCode is the website for programming micro:bit. Click “sign in” in the top right corner and continue with the email login of your choice.

2. Once you are signed in, click the “New Project” box and name it “LED test”.

3. Create the following code, which will program the LED pad on the micro:bit to sequentially write “I love STEM” in a combination of letters, icons, and a string in the “forever” loop.

07

CODING TIP To find a command, use the search bar at the top of the tabs.

4. Ensure your micro:bit is connected to your device with a USB cord, either directly to the USB-C port or to an adapter, if your device does not have a USBC port.

5. Click “Download” in the lower left hand corner and then select “Connect Device”.

6. When the dialog box pops up, select your BBC micro:bit.

Note: If the device does NOT appear, disconnect and reconnect the USB cord. If it still doesn’t appear, look for the “Micro:bit” drive on your desktop. If you cannot connect the device with the dialog box, you can select “Download as File” and then drag the downloaded .h file into the micro:bit drive. You can do this each time you upload code. However, it is much more efficient to connect the device.

7. If you successfully connected your device, now select “Download” and it will send the code to your micro:bit. After waiting a few moments, you will see the letters appear in ½ second increments on the device.

8. Now use the LED pad, icons, and a string to write a new message of your choice and display it on the pad by downloading it to your device.

08

SMART SHOES Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

OBJECTIVES At the end of this activity the learner will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the following:

Next Generation Science Standards Engineering Design 3.5.ETS1.1 Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.

Cambridge Science Biology: Life Processes 4Bp.04 Describe the importance of movement in maintaining human health.

ISTE Knowledge Constructor 1.3.d Students build knowledge by actively exploring real-world issues and problems, developing ideas and theories, and pursuing answers and solutions.

Engineering Connection Create a smart shoe with the given materials.

Common Core For Mathematics Number and Operations in Base Ten 4.NBT.A.3 Use place value understanding to round multi-digit whole numbers to any place.

STEM Careers Connection This project includes tasks that reflect the work of professionals in the following careers:

Cambridge Math Handling Data 4Dh1. Answer a question by identifying what data to collect, organising, presenting and interpreting data in tables, diagrams, tally charts, frequency tables, pictograms (symbol representing 2, 5, 10 or 20 units) and bar charts (intervals labelled in twos, fives, tens or twenties)

Fitness Analyst

Data Analyst

13

Project 1: INTRODUCTION A step counter, or pedometer, is a device that counts how many steps you take each day. It helps you stay active by showing you how much you move, which can help you reach your fitness goals. Using a step counter regularly can make your heart healthier, give you more energy, and help you feel better overall.

Why Staying Active Matters

How Movement & Numbers Work Together

Steps Toward Better Health

Movement = Better Health Moving your body every day keeps your heart, bones, and muscles strong.

In 2022, over 80% of adolescents globally did not meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.

(Source: WHO, 2022)

Numbers like your step count help you measure your progress by rounding and comparing your results.

DEFINE THE PROBLEM Two friends are struggling to stay active throughout their busy workdays, leading to health issues such as weight gain and fatigue.

A step counter can help them track their daily movement and encourage healthier habits by setting and achieving simple fitness goals.

Can your team help?

14

Every step you count is a step toward a healthier body and a happier mind. When more people stay active, we build a stronger, healthier world.

MEASURE YOUR SUCCESS

TEAM ROLES Work with your team to determine who will complete each role for this project.

Project Manager Resource Manager Project Communicator Project Tester

MATERIALS

Details

Micro:bit

USB cable

Details

Expansion board

VOCABULARY

15

Building blocks

GETTING STARTED

Part One: Wire 1. Connect the USB cable to the micro:bit and plug it into your device.

2. Insert the micro:bit into the expansion board.

Part Two: Code 3. Create the sample code, which shows one way to use the “shake” sensor, also known as an accelerometer, to increase the number of steps in the counter.

16

4. Connect your device using the option on the lower left half of the screen and download the code to your micro:bit.

5. Test the code to see how it works! When you shake the micro:bit, does the step count as displayed on the LED pad increase?

CHALLENGE Create a way to attach the smart shoe pedometer to your shoe and test it. Does it accurately count your steps? If not, experiment to see if it counts better on your wrist or in your pocket?

BRAINSTORM IDEAS Use the space below to brainstorm ideas for your solution.

17

SHARE YOUR IDEAS Which ideas will you use from each team member?

Team Member

Ideas

BUILD AND CODE Everyone gets to build and code! Choose who will build and code each part according to your plan.

TEST Go back to Measure Your Success and check the boxes. Does your project meet all the goals and rules?

SHARE AND IMPROVE

Design Strengths

Suggested Improvements

18

As you listen to your classmates’ presentations, consider which parts of their project effectively meet the goals. Offer constructive feedback on areas where they could improve.

Remember, innovators encouragement!

inspire

and

support

each

other

with

positive

What was the best suggestion you received? Would you take the advice and redesign your product? Why or why not?

MATH AND SCIENCE CONNECTION 1. The step counter tracked 7,821 steps on Monday. a. Write this value in expanded form.

b. Which digit is in the tens place?

2. The step counter tracked the following number of steps over a week.

Day

Mon

Tues

Wed

Thurs

Fri

Sat

Sun

Step number

5,641

9,230

10,561

4,001

0

8,004

7,543

19

a. A researcher is comparing the number of steps for her subjects, rounded to the nearest thousand. Fill in the chart below, rounding the values above to the nearest thousand for her study.

Day

Mon

Tues

Thurs

Wed

Fri

Sat

Sun

Step number b. Find the average number of steps tracked each day, rounded to the nearest hundred.

c. What are two different explanations for why the step counter tracked 0 steps on Friday?

20

REFLECTION

1. How can a smart shoe counter help meet the SDG goal of Good Health and Wellbeing? Consider how it can be both informational and motivational in your response.

I can break down a problem.

I can develop a working prototype.

I can code my prototype to do what I want.

I can work with my team to accomplish our goals.

21

Try to build and program the tool yourself. If you are having trouble, try the following directions.

The image shows an example of a smart shoe pedometer. Note how the micro:bit is inserted into the expansion board and how the building blocks are used to create an encasement. In this example, the number of steps is displayed on the LED pad.

You may use this image as inspiration, but plan with your team how you will innovate to make the design even better. How can you connect it to your shoe?

How would the design look differently if you had laces on your shoe?

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