Bowling Bots Lesson Key Concepts

Turn Thymio into a bowling bot and explore how creativity, engineering, and programming work together in a fun, hands-on challenge! This lesson is perfect for beginners and introduces core robotics concepts step by step:

• Build your own bowling pins using LEGO and experiment with size, stability, and design.
• Use Thymio’s purple mode with the remote control to knock down pins.
• Improve your robot by adding LEGO attachments to make it stronger and more effective.
• Advanced: Use VPL3 to automate Thymio and create a program that can knock down pins consistently.

Lesson Overview

In this lesson, students will:

1. Build bowling pins using LEGO, aiming to use the fewest bricks or complete the challenge as quickly as possible.
2. Test Thymio in purple mode and try to knock down the pins using the remote control.
3. Modify and upgrade Thymio with LEGO to improve performance.
4. Create a simple VPL3 program to automate movement and knock down pins.

By the end of this lesson, students will understand how design, testing, and simple programming can work together to solve challenges.

Important Notes:

Make sure Thymio is placed about 40 cm away from the pins before starting. The number of pins can vary, but using at least 3 is recommended for a better challenge.

Tips for this Lesson:

1. Try different pin designs to see which ones are easiest or hardest to knock down.
2. Use a stopwatch to track how fast you can complete the challenge.
3. Add LEGO pieces to Thymio to improve balance, strength, or pushing power.
4. Test your VPL3 program multiple times and adjust speed or timing for better results.

Products/Materials

The following products and resources can be used in this lesson:

FUN FACT!

Did you know that engineers often test robots using simple challenges like knocking over objects? These activities help improve accuracy, strength, and control in real-world robotic systems!

Download the Lesson PDF Files Below:

Check out the video tutorial/solutions below: