Sphero 101: Introduction to Robot Control

Sphero 101: Introduction to Robot Control

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson you will be able to control and navigate a Sphero robot using the Sphero app.

Explain the objective of the lesson to the students. Ensure that they understand what they will achieve by the end of the lesson.

What do you already know about robotics?

Overview of Sphero

Sphero is a spherical robot with LED lights and sensors that can be controlled using a smartphone or tablet.

Show the Sphero ball to the students and highlight its features. Discuss the potential uses of Sphero in various fields.

Sphero App Overview

The Sphero app allows you to connect to the Sphero, calibrate it, and access different controls.

Distribute the Sphero balls to the students or groups. Instruct them to download and install the Sphero app on their devices. Guide them through the basic functions of the app.

Basic Control Exercises

Control the Sphero using the app's joystick or tilt controls. Experiment with different speeds and directions.

Demonstrate how to control the Sphero using the app's joystick or tilt controls. Provide students with opportunities to practice controlling the Sphero individually or in pairs.

Rolling in Patterns

Use the Sphero app to make the Sphero roll in straight lines, circles, or patterns.

Encourage students to experiment with different speeds and directions, making the Sphero roll in straight lines, circles, or patterns.

Navigation Challenges

Navigate the Sphero around obstacles and narrow paths, avoiding collisions.

Introduce navigation challenges to enhance students' control skills. Set up obstacles or markers in the classroom or outdoor area. Instruct students to navigate the Sphero around the obstacles, encouraging precise control and avoiding collisions.

Obstacle Course

Navigate the Sphero through an obstacle course with increasing difficulty.

Gradually increase the difficulty of the challenges by adding more obstacles or creating narrow paths to navigate through.

Reflection and Discussion

Share your observations, challenges faced, and strategies used during the control and navigation exercises.

Gather the students and lead a class discussion on their experiences with the Sphero. Ask them to share their observations, challenges faced, and strategies used during the control and navigation exercises.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.