Lesson 7: Programming with Sensors: Responding to Environmental Changes

Learning Objectives Identify different types of robot sensors and the data they collect. Explain how a sensor provides input to a program. Write a program that uses an 'If-Then-Else' conditional statement to make a decision based on sensor data. Define and use a 'threshold' to trigger a robot's action. Create a program that uses a loop to continuously check a sensor's value. Design and code a simple autonomous behavior, such as avoiding an obstacle or following a line. How does an automatic door know when to open, or a self-driving car know when to stop? 🤖 It's all about sensors! In this lesson, we'll learn how to give our robots 'senses' using sensors. We will write code that reads information from the robot's environ...

TermDefinitionExample SensorA device that detects or measures a physical property (like light, distance, or sound) and sends that information to a computer or microprocessor.An ultrasonic sensor measures distance by sending out a sound wave and timing how long it takes to bounce back. InputData that a computer program receives from an external source, like a sensor.The number '15' (representing 15 centimeters) read from a distance sensor is an input to the robot's program. OutputAn action or signal that a computer program sends out, often to control a device like a motor or a light.Telling the robot's wheels to turn is an output. Conditional Statement (If-Then-Else)A block of code that performs different actions depending on whether a condition is true or false.IF the...

The If-Then-Else Pattern if (sensor_value < threshold) { // Action A } else { // Action B } Use this to make a choice. The program checks if a condition is true. If it is, it runs Action A. If it's not, it runs Action B. This is the core of making a robot 'decide' what to do. The Continuous Sensing Loop forever { // Read sensor value // Use If-Then-Else to decide on an action } A robot needs to constantly check its surroundings. Placing your sensor-reading and conditional logic inside a 'forever' loop ensures the robot is always aware and ready to react to changes. Comparison Operators < (less than), > (greater than), == (equal to) These are the symbols you use inside your 'if' statement to compare the sensor's...