Remote Control Using Bluetooth

Many computer scientists, as well as other engineers and researchers, must be able to understand electrical connections in order to design programs that allow these devices to exchange and interpret information. We rely on these wire and wireless connections every day. For instance, when navigating a browser to a website, the browser must be able to successfully send HTML requests to the website's server. The server must receive and then correctly interpret the request and respond with the relevant files so that the browser can load the website. More and more we depend on multiple electrical devices being able to find and connect with each other wirelessly. Bluetooth is a popular type of wireless electrical connection used by many devices, such as the WiiMote and the Wii.

After this activity, students should be able to:

• Explain what a wireless connection is.
• Explain how a LEGO robot can use a Bluetooth connection to communicate with other devices.
• Guide a LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 robot through a maze using a Bluetooth device.

Experience building and programming LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 taskbots.

In the "age of the internet," the ability to design programs that utilize electrical connections grows ever more important. Every time you direct a web browser to a website, the browser sends multiple requests to a web server, which then responds with the correct information to load the website. Think of all the internet access you use and depend upon every day. That represents s a great number of electrical connections and information passed around!

Learning to program devices to interact with one another results in extremely efficient data transmission as well as enabling machines to perform various tasks precisely in sync with one another.

Before the Activity

• Gather materials and make copies of the Remote Control Using Bluetooth Pre-Quiz (PDF) and Remote Control Using Bluetooth Post-Quiz (PDF), one each per student. The quizzes are provided as separate attachments, and also embedded in the presentation to make it easier to go through them as a class, if desired.
• Assemble the LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 taskbots for each group, following the instructions in the base set manual.
• In a classroom or hallway, use tape, boxes and/or walls to set up a robot maze that resembles the diagram in Figure 1 and slide 10.
• In advance, perform the entire activity so as to be familiar with all details and instructions (slides 4-9), including downloading the app and successfully guiding a robot through the maze using a phone.
• Present the activity challenge to students using the 13-slide Remote Control Using Bluetooth Presentation (PPTX), a PowerPoint file. Set up a computer/projector to show the presentation to the class.
• Arrange for enough computers so you have one for each student group. Make sure each computer has the LEGO software loaded.Figure 1: Set up a maze in the classroom for the LEGO robots to navigate.

With the Students

1. Administer the pre-quiz by handing out paper copies (also on slide 2). The answers are provided for the teacher on slide 3.
2. (slide 4) Divide the class into student pairs and introduce today's activity challenge: Each pair works together to use an Android phone to remotely guide a LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 taskbot through a maze.
3. Direct students to follow the detailed instructions on slides 4-9 to wirelessly connect the Android phones to the EV3 robots. This includes downloading the LEGO MINDSTORMS Commander app from the Google Play store, and making unique EV3 brick names in order to minimize Bluetooth connection confusion.
4. Then, have students use the remote control buttons (arrow keys) on their Android phones to guide their EV3 taskbots through the maze (slide 10).
5. Once all groups have successfully navigated their taskbots through the maze, summarize the activity by reviewing what electrical connections are, why wireless connections are especially useful and highlighting the key concepts.
6. Lead a class discussion, inviting students to share their observations, experiences, conclusions and questions about the programming challenge activity. Ask the students:

• Which was easier—using remote control to go through the maze or programming the LEGO taskbot to go through with movement blocks?
• For what other situations might Bluetooth be useful for completing tasks?

7. Administer the post-quiz by handing out paper copies (also on slide 11). Answers are on slide 12 Vocabulary are provided on slide 13.

Pre-Activity Assessment

Pre-Quiz: Before starting the activity, administer the four-question Remote Control Using Bluetooth Pre-Quiz (PDF) (also on slide 2) to assess students' retention about wired and wireless electrical connections from the associated lesson. Answers are provided on the Remote Control Using Bluetooth Pre-Quiz Answer Key (PDF) (and slide 3).

Activity-Embedded Assessment

Observation: Oversee students as they follow the slide instructions to wirelessly connect the Android phones to the EV3 robots. Observe their engagement and logic in order to gauge their comprehension of what is being done in order to be able to command the robot movements through wireless electrical connections. Ask pertinent questions to help students through any necessary troubleshooting.

Post-Activity Assessment

Post-Quiz: At activity end, administer the three-question Remote Control Using Bluetooth Post-Quiz (PDF) (also on slide 11). Answers are provided on the Remote Control Using Bluetooth Post-Quiz Answer Key (PDF) (and slide 12). Review students' answers to assess their understanding of the concepts explored in the activity.

In a class with multiple EV3 bricks trying to use Bluetooth, it is very helpful to change the EV3s' names to unique names so that they are easily distinguishable from the other EV3 devices.

EV3 User's Guide. Accessed Jul 17, 2016 http://why.gr/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/EV3-User-Guide-EN.pdf