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The LEGO WeDo 2.0 kit is a fun and educational way to introduce children to robotics and STEM. One of the projects included in the kit is building Milo, the Science Rover. Milo is designed to simulate how scientists and engineers use rovers to explore places that humans cannot go, such as Mars. The rover can be built to move forward, with the addition of a motion sensor to detect objects, and a tilt sensor to send messages about its discoveries. The motor can be controlled to start in both directions, stop, turn, and change speeds. The parameters of the program can be changed to make Milo move forward further and faster. The WeDo 2.0 kit also includes other projects, such as building a race car to investigate factors that affect its speed.

Building the Milo Science Rover

The Milo Science Rover is a great introductory project to the world of robotics and STEM. It is a project from the Lego WeDo 2.0 Education Kit, which is designed to teach students about rovers and how they can be used to explore places where humans cannot go, such as Mars.

Building Milo

The first step is to build the Milo Science Rover model. This will give students their first experience building with WeDo 2.0. The building instructions provided include 29 easy steps to construct the rover. It is important to ensure that everyone can connect the motor to the Smarthub and that the Smarthub can be connected to your device.

Programming Milo

Once built, the rover can be programmed to move forward. The provided program will start the motor at power 8, go in one direction for 2 seconds, and then stop. The motor can be activated for a specific amount of time and can be turned in both directions and stopped. The parameters of this program can be changed to make the rover move further and faster.

Additional Sensors

There are additional sensors that can be added to the Milo Science Rover. These include the motion sensor and the tilt sensor. The motion sensor will allow you to create and program an object detector arm that can detect objects. The tilt sensor will allow you to create and program a messaging arm, allowing Milo to send a message about his discoveries.

Learning Outcomes

By building and programming the Milo Science Rover, children will learn about how scientists and engineers reach remote places to explore, such as using rovers on Mars. They will also learn about the importance of sensors in helping rovers make decisions and achieve tasks without constant human control.

Adding motion and tilt sensors

The LEGO WeDo 2.0 kit allows children to build Milo the Science Rover, a model with 29 steps that can be programmed to move forward. The rover can be enhanced with the addition of motion and tilt sensors, which enable it to detect objects and send messages about its discoveries.

The motion sensor allows you to create and program an object detector arm for Milo. This sensor will enable the rover to detect objects in its path and make decisions about where to go and where to stop. The program string provided will make the rover go forward until it detects an object, at which point it will stop and make a sound. You can even record your own sound for the discovery.

The tilt sensor, meanwhile, allows you to create and program a messaging arm for Milo. This sensor will enable the rover to send a message about its discoveries. You will need to use the program provided for this.

The motion and tilt sensors are important tools that help the rover navigate and explore remote places where humans cannot go. Scientists and engineers use rovers to explore challenging environments, such as Mars, underwater, and inside volcanoes. These rovers are equipped with sensors to help them see and collect data about these new places.

Programming the rover to detect objects

The LEGO WeDo 2.0 kit allows users to build and program a rover, named Milo, that can detect objects and move in different directions. Here is a step-by-step guide on programming the rover to detect objects:

Step 1: Build the Rover

Follow the building instructions provided in the WeDo 2.0 kit to assemble Milo, the science rover. This will be your first build experience with WeDo 2.0, consisting of 29 easy steps. Make sure to connect the motor to the Smarthub and connect the Smarthub to your device.

Step 2: Initial Programming

Start by programming Milo to move forward. You can use the provided program for this. The rover will start the motor at power 8, go in one direction for 2 seconds, and then stop. Experiment with changing the parameters of the program to make Milo move further or faster.

Step 3: Add the Motion Sensor

Now, add the motion sensor to Milo. This will enable you to create and program an object detector arm. The motion sensor input will allow the rover to detect objects in its path. You will need to use the program provided for this.

Step 4: Test the Object Detection

Test the object detector arm by placing an object, such as a plant sample, in front of the rover. The provided program string will make the rover move forward until it detects the presence of the object. It will then stop and make a sound. You can even record your own sound for the discovery.

Step 5: Document and Present

As part of the learning experience, students should document their findings and present their models. They can take pictures with their rover, record videos of their missions, and explain how the rover can help in exploring remote places or discovering special plant specimens.

Step 6: Explore Further

Encourage students to explore the Design Library to find inspiration for additional features and functions for their rover. They can experiment with creating their own solutions, modifying the basic model, and programming the rover to perform specific tasks, such as moving in and out of a crater or collecting a rock sample.

Using the WeDo 2.0 software

The WeDo 2.0 software also provides an introductory video with suggested talking points to set the stage for the project. The video discusses how cars have evolved to become faster, and how engineers have searched for elements that could influence a car's speed, such as stronger engines, improved wheels and tires, and changes in size and materials.

Students can then build a race car following the provided instructions and program it to calculate time. The program will start by displaying "0" and waiting for a start signal. When the student removes their hand, the program will turn the motor on, go to maximum power, and repeat, adding "1" to the display each time. This loop will continue until the end of the race, when the motor will turn off.

It is important to note that for this program, students must place their hand in front of the car before executing the program string. Additionally, the setup should remain consistent throughout the test to isolate and test one element at a time.

The WeDo 2.0 software also allows students to investigate speed factors by testing different variables, such as wheel size, motor power, and drive mechanism. They can run races with different wheel sizes and motor powers, predicting the time it will take to travel certain distances.

Students can also design and build their own race cars, applying their findings to make them as fast as possible. They can then collaborate and organize a race to see whose car is the fastest.

Finally, the WeDo 2.0 software provides assessment rubrics to evaluate student performance during the Explore, Create, and Share phases of the project.

Exploring space with a rover

The LEGO WeDo 2.0 Education Kit offers a fun and educational way to learn about rovers and their capabilities. The kit includes a Milo the Science Rover model, which can be built and programmed to perform different functions. Milo can be programmed to move forward, detect objects using a motion sensor, and send messages about its discoveries using a tilt sensor.

When building a rover, it is important to consider its mission and the functions it will need to perform. For example, a rover sent to explore a distant planet may need to move in and out of craters, collect rock samples, or drill holes in the ground. The design of the rover should be tailored to the specific tasks it will undertake, with various features and functions.

To make the LEGO WeDo rover turn, you can adjust the parameters of its program. The motor can be started in both directions, stopped, and turned at different speeds. By changing the direction of the motor, you can make the rover turn left or right. Additionally, you can experiment with different wheel sizes and motor power settings to influence the rover's speed and manoeuvrability.

Rovers play a crucial role in space exploration, allowing us to gather information and explore new worlds. By building and programming LEGO rovers, students can gain a deeper understanding of the capabilities and potential of these remarkable vehicles.

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