Mr. Heise
October
This week in robotics ALP, students took our first real steps into the world of electronics and engineering. Our line-tracking “self-driving” cars are coming to life. After learning about circuits, power systems, and how sensors communicate with a microcontroller, students rolled up their sleeves and began soldering the components themselves. This was a very enjoyable experience that felt like a Wes Anderson movie with the kids all intuitively snapping into a serious mode and talking to each other in very formal, technical ways.
These cars work by using infrared sensors that detect the contrast between a dark line and a lighter surface. The microcontroller then adjusts the motors in real time so the vehicle follows the track automatically—much like road-detecting systems in modern autonomous cars. If a student brings tinfoil, we can probably build a small Cybertruck.
Along the way, students are gaining hands-on skills that blend creativity and technical know-how: identifying components, reading wiring diagrams, understanding polarity, problem-solving, and practicing safe tool use. Soon, we’ll be testing the cars on our class racetrack.