Robotics 1.0 Lesson Plan
Lesson 16 - Mini Project 2 - Automatic Door with rack and pinion

Purpose: Enable students to apply their knowledge of actuators, sensors, mechanisms, and CircuitPython by developing an automatic door system using CPX + Crickit.

No. of Classes

2 classes (Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes; maximum 4 students per group).

Materials Required

    Desktop or Laptop

    CPX Board

    Crickit Board

    USB Cable

    MG996R Servo Motor

    Limit Switch

    Pressure Sensor

    Rack and Pinion Mechanism

    Jumper Wires

Curriculum Content 6.8 Force Sensitive Resistor (FSR)
6.9 Limit Switch
7.1 Servo Motors
7.5.1 Motion Types - Linear
8.4 Programming the Robot and Testing It
Prior Knowledge

CPX Board

Crickit Board

Basic Sensors

Basic Actuators

Basic CircuitPython Programming

Exercises

Exercise:2.1


Slide Away

Control an automatic door using a limit switch to detect the door position and an MG996R servo motor to operate the door mechanism.


Click here to open the activity.

Exercise:2.2


Magic Slider

Detect pressure using a pressure sensor and automatically operate the door when a person steps on the sensor.


Click here to open the activity.

Teacher's Instruction
  1. Introduce the Automatic Door mini project and explain the working of the rack-and-pinion mechanism.
  2. Allow students to pick any one activity based on their interest.
  3. Guide students to follow the instructions provided for the selected activity.
  4. Explain how the MG996R servo and sensors are used to control the automatic door.
  5. Encourage students to test the door movement and modify the CircuitPython program.
  6. Guide students to troubleshoot sensor, actuator, mechanism, and programming errors.