The use of the Lego Mindstorm robot is allowing student to get a feel for how technology is both assembled and functional. This experiment requires the student to assembly the simple device and program it using online software. This type of hands on activity is beneficial in showing the possibilities of more advanced equipment. Technology is a huge aspect of everyone’s life and is only going to increase as we progress into the future. This basic knowledge is a small window into the complex world of new, innovative technology. The basic principles that allow the functionality of the lego Mindstorm apply to all technology ranging from cars to spaceships.
As part of the lesson, we were given basic background knowledge that included unit conversions and finding percent error. This experiment used meters as the primary unit after being converted from inches. Revolutions and degrees was also used to find the degrees the wheels rotated as well as the number of turns of the wheel.
The first thing we were asked to do was find the circumference of the wheel on the Lego Mindstorm. This measurement is found by using the formula c=2πr or c= diameter*π. The measurement found was about 17 centimeters or .17 meters. For the first test we were asked to make the robot move and record the distance. This test was using a power level of 75%. In one second the car wheels rotated 564 degrees. This is equal to 1.57 revolutions. This is because you divide the degrees rotated by that of a circle, 360 degrees. After a second of movement the car traveled 28.5 centimeters, which was converted to .285 meters. The online computer simulator predicted that the car would travel .266 meters. This caused a percent error of 6.89%. This is the number measured-computer simulated divided by the average of two.
A second and third trial were performed to get more data at different power levels. At 70% power the car moved .265 meters and the computer simulated was .2488. This resulted in a percent error of 6.31%. The third trial at 60% resulted in the car traveling .230 meters, while the computer guess it would travel .210 meters. This was a percent error of 9.1%
| Trial 1 | Trial 2 | Trial 3 | |
| Power level | 75.00% | 70.00% | 60.00% |
| Measured distance (m) | 0.285m | 0.265m | 0.230m |
| Computer simulated distance (m) | 0.266m | 0.2488m | 0.210m |
| (measured-computer)/
average |
0.069 |
0.063 |
0.091 |
| Percent error (%) |
6.896% |
6.306% |
9.091% |