During our class, we practiced an experiment using Lego robots. This activity consisted of launching a computer software together with the used of the robot and experimenting with three different settings for the motors. For this experiment, my teammate, Xiaofeng Sheng and I, performed three different trials per power setting in order to obtain different results and evaluate the possible % of errors between each trial. In order to perform the experiment the right way we followed a series of steps to get ready the Lego robot. First with a ruler, we measured the diameter of the wheel and computed the circumference of the wheel in meters then we connected the robot to the computer and played changing the power and recording different numbers provided by the computer software as well as measurements we got by measuring the distance completed in each trial with a ruler.
The following chart shows the results obtained in each trial:
Wheel Diameter= 5.5 cm Circumference: 0.1728 m
Calculation: C=2 πr
Calculation to obtain % of error = [dm – dc] / (dm+dc/2) * 100%
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Set 1 using power= 60 and time=1 |
Set 2 using power= 50 and time=1 |
Set 3 using power= 40 and time=1 |
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TRIAL (A) |
TRIAL (A) |
TRIAL (A) |
| Rotation: 442 degrees | Rotation: 356 degrees | Rotation: 284 degrees |
| # wheel turns: 1.22778 | # wheel turns: 0.988 | # wheel turns: 0.7888 |
| Distance: 0.21216 m | Distance: 0.17088 m | Distance: 0.136 m |
| Velocity:021216 m | Velocity:0.17088 m | Velocity:0.136 m |
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Trial (A) measured by students |
Trial (A) measured by students |
Trial (A) measured by students |
| Distance: 22 cm | Distance: 18 cm | Distance: 14 cm |
| Margin of error: 3.6283% | Margin of error: 5.1984 % | Margin of error: 2.6636 % |
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TRIAL (B) |
TRIAL (B) |
TRIAL (B) |
| Rotation: 440 degrees | Rotation: 362 degrees | Rotation: 283 degrees |
| # wheel turns: 1.22 | # wheel turns: 1.00556 | # wheel turns: 0.78611 |
| Distance: 0.2112 m | Distance: 0.17376 m | Distance: 0.13584 m |
| Velocity:0.2112 m | Velocity:0.17376 m | Velocity:0.13584 m |
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Trial (B) measured by students |
Trial (B) measured by students |
Trial (B) measured by students |
| Distance: 22 cm | Distance: 18 cm | Distance: 14.5 cm |
| Margin of error: 4.0816% | Margin of error: 3.5278 % | Margin of error: 6.5233 % |
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TRIAL (C) |
TRIAL (C) |
TRIAL (C) |
| Rotation: 441 degrees | Rotation: 360 degrees | Rotation: 283 degrees |
| # wheel turns: 1.225 | # wheel turns: 1 | # wheel turns: 0.78611 |
| Distance: 0.21168 m | Distance: 0.1728 m | Distance: 0.13584 m |
| Velocity:0.21168 m | Velocity: 0.1728 m | Velocity:0.13584 m |
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Trial (C) measured by students |
Trial (C) measured by students |
Trial (C) measured by students |
| Distance: 22 cm | Distance: 18 cm | Distance: 13.7 cm |
| Margin of error: 3.8547% | Margin of error: 4.0816 % | Margin of error: 0.8503 % |
In conclusion to this experiment by looking at the results, we can appreciate that when the power is lower the distance gets shorter and a full rotation is not completed by the car’s wheels. When the power is higher than 50 a full rotation starts to happen in some trials performed by us in the class. As shown in the set where the power reached 60 it shows how the rotation goes over a full turn of 360 degrees. Each trial showed a different margin of error displaying a wide variety of numbers between each trial and each set shows a wide range between each of its trials. Utilizing this method to understand the calculations explained in the class were very helpful to visualize it and understand it while practicing it with the robots. I found the experiment to be a good and different way to understand formulas and utilized then.