Adding additional features to your buggy

Computing

Introduction to physical computing

Working with motors

Chassis design and build

Ultrasonic sensors to measure distance

Optical sensors for navigation

Creating an autonomous vehicle

Presenting a physical computing project

This unit introduces pupils to physical computing by building a robotic buggy. They will use a Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller to explore inputs and outputs, and utilise a range of hardware components, including motors, reflective optical sensors, LEDs, and an ultrasonic sensor.

Using physical computing to create a robot buggy

What is the main benefit of adding extra components to a product?

carefully consider their usefulness and impact

What should you do before adding new systems to a product?

Arrange these steps for improving a product:

more features always mean a better product

adding features should focus on usefulness and how well they work together

every product needs as many features as possible

the best products are the most complicated

Which statement best addresses the misconception that adding more features always makes a product better?

flashing lights turning on one after another

code split into blocks for different tasks

What type of component is often used for lighting and signals in electronics?

What is an advantage of using modular code?

to ensure parts work together at the right time

Why is synchronising systems important in technology?

Arrange these steps for using LEDs to create a sequence:

Adding additional features to your buggy

Lesson outcome