Robotics Engineering Curriculum (REC)
Overview
Everything you need to begin a successful program aligned to national STEM standards – just add students!
REC delivers comprehensive instruction aligned to national STEM standards via hands-on activities and compelling online curriculum, all centered on three core features:
- LearnMate curriculum with Learning Management System (LMS)
- VEX Coding Studio (VCS) Robotic Programming Software
- Robust VEX® V5 Robotics Hardware
REC was the most sustained fun, entertainment and education in my 42 years of teaching! Kids came to class early and on their lunches just to get started!
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Robotics Engineering Curriculum (REC) provides a comprehensive study of engineering concepts including:
- Physics
- Programming
- Mechanical systems
- Electrical and electronics systems
- Relevant activities and capstone projects in each semester
These core concepts are delivered with a robotics emphasis through relevant activities and projects using the VEX V5 Robotics hardware and VEX® Coding Studio Robotic Programming Software. By using robotics as a vehicle to convey the principles of engineering, REC generates excitement and enthusiasm for the engineering field!
ITEEA’S ENGINEERING BYDESIGN™ ROBOTICS PATHWAYEXTENSION™
REC™ forms the Robotics PathwayExtension™ for ITEEA’s Engineering byDesign™ Program. This standards-based program delivers STEM education for K-12 students. For those choosing a Robotics component, the REC robotics PathwayExtension™ forms the second and third years (grades 10 and 11) of high-school level instruction.
Robotics Engineering Curriculum (REC)
Specifications
REC Semester 1 & 2:
Order #REC1-FULL
Intelitek REC 1 Program includes:
REC Content, easyC® for IQ/Cortex, and REC VEX Robotics Design System Kit.
REC1-FULL-0020 – LMS Format for 20 Students
REC1-FULL-0030 – LMS Format for 30 Students
REC 1 Semester 1 & 2 Program includes:
The following items (one of each) are supplied for two students and one instructor except as noted:
LearnMate® REC 1 Content – Lab License for 10, 20 or 30 students
Lab license of easyC® v5 for IQ/EDR, 10, 20 or 30 seats
VEX Kit with Cortex controller includes
Robot, Metal, Gears, wheels, Cortex microcontroller and transmitter
9.6V Battery, 7.2V Battery with smart chargers
Robotic programming cable
Ultrasonic Range Finder Kit
Line Follower Kit
The following items are utilized within REC but are not provided as part of the kit and must be purchased separately, or a suitable alternative can be used:
One per kit:
Protractor
Stop Watch (tenths of second)
3 Ring Binder – 1″ (one per student)
Composition Book (one per student)
Electrical Tape – 3/4″ wide (black)
Masking Tape – 1″ wide
Tape Measure
Spring Scale – 4.5 lbs x 0.1lb
5lb Weights (quantity 3)
One per classroom:
String – (construction grading line)
Dry Erase Marker – Black (1 dozen)
Dry Erase Marker – Blue (1 dozen)
Elastic Band – #16 (450/bag)
Precision Scale – 10 lbs x 0.1oz
8-32 x 1″ BHCS (Box of 100)
REC 2: Order #REC2-FULL
Intelitek REC 2 Program includes:
REC Content, REC VEX Robotics Design System accessories, and REC Materials Kit for REC 2.
REC2-FULL-0020 – LMS Format for 20 Students
REC2-FULL-0030 – LMS Format for 30 Students
REC 2 Semester 3 & 4 Program includes:
The following items (one of each) are supplied for two students and one instructor except as noted:
Advanced Gear Kit
High Strength Sprocket and Chain Kit
Worm Gearbox Bracket
Rack Gearbox Bracket
Bevel Gearbox Bracket
Potentiometer Kit (2)
Linear Slide kit
Continuous Rotation Motor
VEX Y Cable
VEX PWM Cables
VEX Water Wheels
Digital Multimeter
Wire Cutter
Pliers
Storage Box
Breadboard
Resistors
Springs
Photo resistors
Capacitors
LM555 Timer
LED’s
Transistors
Toggle Switches
9 volt battery
The following items (one of each) are supplied per REC program purchased:
LearnMate® REC 2 Content – Lab License for 10, 20 or 30 Computers
REC 2 Project Kit
The following items are utilized within REC but are not provided as part of the kit and must be purchased separately, or a suitable alternative can be used:
Golf Balls
Bins
Robotics Engineering Curriculum 1
In REC 1, students build and program the BaseBot, then use it to conduct experiments demonstrating physics and mechanical properties, adding sensors and mechanisms. REC 1 concludes with a capstone project featuring competitive instructional strategies.
REC 1 Semester 1
REC Unit 1: Introduction to Robotics
1.1 (Core): Introduction to Robotics
1.2 (Core): The Design Cycle
1.3 (Activity): Engineering Notebook
1.4 (Core): Safety
1.5 (Core): VEX Components
1.6 (Activity): VEX Components
1.7 (Core): Fasteners
1.8 (Activity): Chassis Construction
1.9 (Core): Drive Train
1.10 (Activity): Drive Train Construction
1.11 (Core): Robot Controller
1.12 (Activity): Wiring the VEX Controller and Battery
1.13 (Core): Wireless Control
1.14 (Activity): Using Wireless Control
1.15 (Core): Dual Joystick Control (Tank)
1.16 (Activity): Tank Control
1.17 (Core): Single Joystick Control (Arcade)
1.18 (Activity): Arcade Control Operation
1.19 (Core): Robot Systems Design
1.20 (Activity): Adding Components to the BaseBot
1.21 (Project): Motion Path Challenge
REC Unit 2: Introduction to VEX Programming
2.1 a (Core): Basic Motor Control
2.1 b (Activity): Programming Components
2.2 (Activity): Draw a Line
2.3 (Core): Pseudocode and Turns
2.4 (Activity): Make a Square
2.5 (Core): Variables, Constants and Comments
2.6 (Activity): Apply Constants, Variables, and Comments
2.7 (Core): Tools in easyC
2.8 (Activity): Using easyC Tools
2.9 (Core): Dead Reckoning and User Functions
2.10 (Activity): Follow a Complex Path
2.11 (Core): Conditional Statements
2.12 (Activity): Modifying the GoForward Function
2.13 (Core): Loops
2.14 (Activity): Make Multiple Squares
2.15 (Core): Simplified Symbols, Logical Operators, and Integer Math
2.16 (Activity): Drawing Shapes
2.17 (Project): Fine Motor Control
REC Unit 3: Physics and Robotics
3.1 (Core): Motors and Motor Speed
3.2 (Activity): Angular Velocity
3.3 (Core): DC Motors: Types and Uses
3.4 (Core): Gears and Gear Trains
3.5 (Activity): Gear Trains
3.6 (Core): Fundamentals of Linear Motion
3.7 (Activity): Linear Motion
3.8 (Core): Rotational Dynamics
3.9 (Activity): Linear and Angular Velocity
3.10 (Core): Newton’s Laws
3.11 (Activity): Weight
3.12 (Core): Friction and Traction
3.13 (Activity): Coefficients of Friction
3.14 (Core): Torque
3.15 (Activity): Test Motor Torque
3.16 (Core): Gear Ratios and Torque
3.17 (Activity): Hill Climb
3.18 (Core): Power
3.19 (Project): Tractor Pull
REC 1 Semester 2
REC Unit 4: Sensors
4.1 (Core): Introduction to Sensors
4.2 (Activity): Open-Loop vs. Closed-Loop Navigation
4.3 (Core): Open-Loop vs. Closed-Loop Systems
4.4 (Core): Introduction to VEX Kit Sensors
4.5 (Activity): Bumper Car
4.6 (Core): Ultrasonic Sensors
4.7 (Activity): Ultrasonic Rangefinder
4.8 (Activity): Warn and Avoid using speaker
4.9 (Core): Following Lines
4.10 (Activity): The Line-Following Sensor
4.11 (Activity): Line Following
4.12 (Unit Project): Bumper Books
REC Unit 5: Arms and End Effectors
5.1 (Core): Introduction to Robotic Arms, Degrees of Freedom
5.2 (Activity): Robotic Arm Construction
5.3 (Core): Mass, Weight, Center of Weight and Torque
5.4 (Activity): Center of Weight of BaseBot
5.5 (Core): Relationship of Torque, Gear Ratio and Weight of Payload
5.6 (Activity): Stall Torque
5.7 (Core): Remote Control; Limit Switches
5.8 (Activity): Windshield Wiper
5.9 (Core): End Effectors
5.10 (Activity): End Effector
REC Unit 6: Project
6.1: (Project): Ultrasonic Trainyard Challenge
Robotics Engineering Curriculum 2
In REC 2, students continue with deeper engineering topics, building more advanced robots including those shown.
REC 2 Semester 3
REC Unit 7: Introduction to Electronics
7.1 (Core): Fundamentals of Electricity
7.2 (Core): Components and Schematics
7.3 (Activity): Schematics and Breadboards
7.4 (Core): Ohm’s Law and Making Measurements
7.5 (Activity): Using a Multimeter and Ohm’s Law
7.6 (Core): Circuits
7.7 (Activity): Series and Parallel Circuits
7.8 (Core): Feedback
7.9 (Activity): Blinking LED
7.10 (Core): Working With easyC® and Sensors
7.11 (Activity): Integrating Hardware and Software
7.12: Final Project
REC Unit 8: Mechanical Properties
8.1 (Core): Safety and Best Practices
8.2 (Core): Chain and Sprockets
8.3 (Activity): Testing Chain and Sprockets
8.4 (Core): Locomotion Systems
8.5 (Activity): Building the Tumblebot
8.6 (Core): My Robot Features
8.7 (Activity): Program the Tumblebot Drivetrain
8.8 (Core): Using the easyC® C-Editor
8.9 (Activity): Writing an Arcade Function
8.10 (Core): Advanced easyC® Functions
8.11 (Activity): Introduction to Freeze Tag
8.12 (Core): Adding Autonomous Control
8.13 (Project): Freeze Tag
REC Unit 9: Advanced C Programming
9.1 (Core): Proportional Control
9.2 (Activity): Using Proportional Control
9.3 (Core): Derivative Control
9.4 (Activity): Using Derivative Control
9.5 (Core): PID Control
9.6 (Activity): Integral Control
9.7 (Core): Data Filtering
9.8 (Activity): Data Filtering and Graceful Degradation
9.9 (Core): Behavioral Robotics
9.10 (Activity): Build a Vacuuming Robot
9.11 (Core): Organizing Behaviors
9.12 (Activity): Writing a Roombot Behavior
9.13 (Core): Random Turns
9.14 (Activity): Generating Random Numbers
9.15 (Project): Roombot Field Navigator
REC 2 Semester 4
REC Unit 10: Industrial Robotic Arms
10.1 (Core): Industrial Robots
10.2 (Activity): Building a Turret
10.3 (Core): Potentiometers
10.4 (Activity): Installing the Potentiometer
10.5 (Core): Robotic Movement
10.6 (Activity): Completing the Arm
10.7 (Core): Robotic Integration
10.8 (Project): Pass the Workpiece
REC Unit 11: Advanced Mechanics
11.1 (Core): Lift Systems
11.2 (Activity): Building a Lift Mechanism
11.3 (Core): Advanced Gear Systems
11.4 (Activity): Rack and Pinion Test Stand
REC Unit 12: Project
12.1 (Project): Bucket Battle
EasyC v5 for Cortex and VEX IQ provides the best way to harness the full power of VEX robotics systems. With one license for both the Cortex and VEX IQ microcontroller, easyC provides the perfect programming solution for classrooms and competitive teams.
EasyC enables you to produce effective programs in a short period of time. Designed with the student and teacher in mind, easyC’s simple-to-use graphical interface does all of the syntax and spacing, allowing you to focus on program flow and design. Each function block links to detailed help on how to use that particular function.
Experienced programmers can use the text editor to enter true C code. Tutorials and sample projects enable users of any level to program quickly and effective.
Why use easyC?
- Clean, simple interface for the beginner and experienced programmer.
- EasyC uses a graphical interface on top of Intelitek’s own C library custom made for the VEX Cortex and IQ controllers.
- Generates standard C code.
- Enables beginners to quickly and easily learn basic programming by focusing on the core elements of program flow and design.
- Text editor for experienced programmers to type their own code. (Cortex Programming)
- An extensive, easy to use help file with pictures and video covers every feature of easyC.
- Integrates the development environment, compiler, linker and downloader into a seamless package.
- Features a start page for convenient access to all the most-used features of easyC in one place.
- Includes many tutorials that guide you through important features.
easyC Features
- VEXnet 2.0 Compatible
- 10 Motor Ports (127 to -127 convention)
- 12 digital I/O with interrupt capabilities.
- Graphical Display window for real time debugging and feedback
- On-Line Window can be used to manually test motors and sensors
- Label each of your motor and I/O ports in the new configuration window for easy programming. (never forget where things are plugged in/orientation)
- Terminal window for simple feedback.
- Configurable VEXnet or Crystal competition projects.
- Competition Switch Simulator allows the user to simulate a VEXnet WiFi competition match.
- Add or Create custom libraries, header files, source files.
- Customizable tabbed user interface
- Math function block to define advanced math functions
- Full Text Editor for advanced, customized programming
- Program a holonomic robot with one block of code
- Download to the robot over WiFi or directly via USB
- Copy and paste sections of code between functions and projects
- Windows 7/8 ready – takes advantage of Windows Aero feature
