Chips’nCode
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Week 1: Meet the Robot

YEAR 9 DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES • WEEK 1

Meet the Robot

This week you will sort and check the VEX IQ kit, build the BaseBot and Simple Clawbot, and complete a short manual driving checkpoint.

Used each lesson: VEX IQ kit, battery and controller. You must also bring your engineering notebook and a device to write code on.

🎯 THIS WEEK
  • identify important VEX IQ parts
  • prepare the kit and electronics for building
  • build the BaseBot and convert it into a Simple Clawbot
  • control the robot safely and accurately
📘 ENGINEERING NOTEBOOK

You will need an engineering notebook for this term.

  • It will be checked during lessons.
  • It will be used for teacher feedback.
  • It will be used later as part of your assessment evidence.
✅ BY THE END OF WEEK 1
  • your group should have a working robot
  • your battery and controller should be sorted
  • your notebook should be set up and in use
  • you should be ready to begin coding next week
📌 IMPORTANT
  • Do not rush the build.
  • Do not skip steps in the instructions.
  • Do not say “done” until the robot has been checked properly.
  • Keep parts organised as you work.
Lesson 1: Robot systems and parts
📝 TODAY'S RECORDING

Record today’s work in your engineering notebook if you have one already. Ask your teacher what to do if you don't have one already.

🔧 WHAT TO DO
  1. Open your kit carefully.
  2. If you have an already assembled robot, disassemble it and place parts separately to ensure you have all of them.
  3. Put similar parts together so your group can see what is in the box.
  4. Find the battery, controller, brain, motors, and any sensors you can see.
  5. Open the kit contents poster.
  6. Open the VEX Scavenger Hunt PDF.
  7. Work through the clues one at a time.
  8. For each clue, find the matching part in the poster and then find it in your kit.
✍️ WHAT TO WRITE DOWN
  • the clue number
  • the part name, if you know it
  • or a clear description of the part
  • whether your group found it in the actual kit
✅ WHAT COUNTS AS FINISHED
  • all scavenger hunt clues attempted
  • answers written down
  • your group can show at least 3 matching parts to the teacher
🛟 IF YOU GET STUCK
  • Start with the electronics first.
  • Use the picture on the poster before worrying about the exact part name.
  • Ask one group member to search while another records answers.
  • If the kit is messy, sort it before continuing.
🚀 IF YOU FINISH EARLY

Level Up task: complete the extension task from the Scavenger Hunt PDF.

Optional extra: use the Advanced Scavenger Hunt only if your teacher tells you to.

Advanced Scavenger Hunt PDF

Lesson 2: Build day
📘 ENGINEERING NOTEBOOK REQUIRED

From today onward, bring your engineering notebook to every lesson.

Your notebook will be checked during class and used later as part of your assessment evidence.

🔧 WHAT TO DO FIRST
  1. Find your battery and check whether it needs charging.
  2. Find the controller.
  3. Find the main electronic parts needed for the build.
  4. Make space on the table so your group can build properly.
🏗️ MAIN TASK
  1. Open the BaseBot build instructions.
  2. Build the robot carefully, one step at a time.
  3. Work together with your partner or group and do not skip steps.
  4. Pause often to compare your robot to the instructions.
  5. Check that moving parts can actually move.
  6. Once the BaseBot is complete, convert it into the Simple Clawbot.
✍️ WHAT TO WRITE IN YOUR ENGINEERING NOTEBOOK
  1. Write the date and lesson title: Lesson 2 - Build day.
  2. Write the names of the people in your group.
  3. Write whether your group built:
    • BaseBot only
    • BaseBot and Simple Clawbot
    • part of the build only
  4. Write down the step or stage your group reached.
  5. Write down any missing or damaged parts.
  6. Write down one build problem your group had.
  7. Write down how your group fixed it, or what still needs fixing.
  8. Add one sketch of your robot build.
✅ WHAT MUST BE SHOWN TO THE TEACHER
  • your robot build
  • your notebook entry for today
  • your sketch
Important:
A notebook entry with only one line is not enough. You need a clear record of what your group did.
🛟 IF YOU GET STUCK
  • Go back to the last step where your build definitely matched the instructions.
  • Fix one problem at a time.
  • Check whether the problem is caused by a wrong part, a backwards part, or a missing connector.
🚀 IF YOU FINISH EARLY
  • check another group’s robot against the instructions
  • make a list of the 3 most important build checks
  • if your teacher allows it, begin a short manual control test
Lesson 3: Driver readiness checkpoint
🎯 TODAY'S CHECKPOINT

Your group will finish the robot if needed and then complete 3 short manual control tasks in order.

📘 ENGINEERING NOTEBOOK REQUIRED

You must complete today’s checkpoint record in your engineering notebook. This is part of your evidence for the unit.

📍 CHECKPOINT ORDER
  1. Path drive - drive through the marked route
  2. Precision park - stop the robot in the target area
  3. Pick up and move - move one object with the claw
1. Path drive
  • drive slowly
  • stay on the route as much as possible
  • do not rush
2. Precision park
  • approach carefully
  • stop inside the marked area
  • adjust if needed
3. Pick up and move
  • line up first
  • use the claw carefully
  • place the object in the target area
🔧 WHAT TO DO
  1. Check that your robot is ready before starting.
  2. Complete the path drive.
  3. Complete the precision park.
  4. Complete the pick up and move task.
  5. After each task, decide whether your group is ready to continue or needs another attempt.
✍️ WHAT TO WRITE IN YOUR ENGINEERING NOTEBOOK
  1. Write the date and lesson title: Lesson 3 - Driver readiness checkpoint.
  2. Write whether your robot was fully ready at the start:
    • yes
    • almost
    • no
  3. Copy these checkpoint statements into your engineering notebook and tick the ones that are true:
    • ☐ We completed the path drive.
    • ☐ We completed the precision park.
    • ☐ We completed the pick up and move task.
    • ☐ Our robot stayed connected and working.
    • ☐ Our group worked safely.
  4. Write one sentence: The hardest part for our group was...
  5. Write one sentence: The thing we need to fix before coding is...
✅ WHAT COUNTS AS FINISHED
  • your group attempted all 3 checkpoint tasks
  • your robot stayed working
  • your notebook entry for today is complete
Teacher check:
Be ready to show both your robot and your notebook entry.
🛟 IF YOU GET STUCK
  • slow the robot down
  • swap jobs between driver and spotter if needed
  • check whether the problem is driving, build quality, or claw control
  • ask the teacher before changing the robot build
🚀 IF YOU FINISH EARLY
  • repeat the checkpoint and try to be smoother
  • swap drivers and decide:
    • who could drive straighter
    • who could stop more accurately
    • who could line up the claw better
  • improve one stage without changing the task rules