A few tips on debugging

Throughout the years working with the kids and coaches, we have found a few techniques useful for debugging for both RCX and NXT.

1. Add an icon in your program to play a sound when you expect something to happen, then watch the robot's motion to see if the sound is played at the right time.

2. Add a brief case, or a container to store a debug delay time, say, 2 seconds. Add an icon with that delay to locations you want to check proper behavior. For performance runs, you replace the brief case or container with 0 seconds and you get no delay at the table.

3. Use data logging, available for both RCX and NXT, and log the sensor readings or other events to a file and then review the file.

There are certainly many other techniques. But the kids like 1 the most as they can understand it. Some advanced kids can understand and use 2 effectively. Using 3 to debug is too much work for most kids.

Sylvan Nanites Going To FLL International Open

The Sylvan Nanites are invited to FLL Internatianal Open at University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Campus. The FIRST Lego League International Event will be held from May 1 - 3, 2008.

http://www.hightechkids.org/?2-1-1111

Congratulations to the Sylvan Nanites!

Top 10 reasons I coach a FLL team

#10 I can play with toys that are targetted for kids.
#9 I can learn about mechanical engineering and structural design.
#8 I can build my own science experiments with easily exchangeable parts.
#7 I can model the real world with physical objects.
#6 I can mess up my basement with thousands of Lego pieces nobody complains about it.
#5 I can play with robots.
#4 I can work with great teachers, parents and kids from the neighborhood schools.
#3 I can help the school with Intel VMGP matching fund for my volunteering hours.
#2 I can get kids excited about math, science and engineering.
#1 I can see happy faces from the kids.

Forest Park Elementary - Science and Engineering Day - 2008

On Feb 22, 2008, I visited Forest Park Elementary School. I talked about math (magical squares) and LEGO physics (in terms of levers) to 2 second grade classes. They enjoyed both, but much more with LEGO levers.

Most of them solved the challenged problem - how to balance with the smallest weight on one side, and the 3 heavy weights on the other side. You can see their accomplishments in the photos.

http://picasaweb.google.com/kingsum.chow/ForestParkElementaryScienceAndEngineeringDay2ndGradeClasses?authkey=_cv6brxm8-M

Top Right Section is now "Work in progress"

The top right section, used to be reserved for Sylvan Nanites, is now renamed to "Work in progress" include other interesting projects. All documents and websites in that area will continue to have restricted access. Please let me know if you encounter any access problem.

New Classes from Lego Engineering

Just go there and find out if you want to register

http://www.legoengineering.com/component/option,com_classreg/Itemid,138/

Sylvan Nanites Projection Presentation

The project presentation is now listed to the right under "Our projects" http://docs.google.com/Presentation?id=dhrpwj57_58ch7f63hm

Science Projects

I added two projects done by the kids.

The Newton's Law of Cooling Down Project was done 1 year ago using Robolab and RCX to investigate the rate of cooling and looking into better coffee cups to keep the temperature.

Another project is about using Robolab and NXT to look into ways to optimize following the dark line with different wheels, axle lengths and other factors.

Sylvan Nanites took 3rd place in Young Team Award

The Sylvan Nanites won a well deserved 3rd place in the Oregon State Young Team Award among a total of 54 Young and Old teams on Sunday Jan 20.

Good job!

The following is the press about the Oregon State Championship:

http://www.ous.edu/news_and_information/news/012308.php

Why is FIRST Lego League one of my favorites?

The answer is actually very simple.

I like to play with colorful plastic pieces. I like to figure out mechanical problems. I like to program and get the robot to do the work.

More importantly, I like to work on a research topic that can have a positive impact on the world, e.g. Ocean Odyssey (2005) - http://www.firstlegoleague.org/nobanner.aspx?pid=17940, Nano Quest (2006) - http://www.firstlegoleague.org/nobanner.aspx?pid=21380, and Power Puzzle (2007) - http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=60

And most importantly, I can work with kids that are very enthusiastic about doing something great for the world.