Blueprints for Module: Module1.1

{
  "programName": "The Robot Creator Program",
  "moduleID": "RC-1.1",
  "moduleTitle": "The Digital & Physical Foundation",
  "moduleDescription": "This foundational module guides students through the essential steps of designing and physically constructing their robot's core. It begins with an in-depth exploration of CAD software (Tinkercad), where students will not only design the robot's chassis plate from scratch but also learn the critical skill of incorporating precise mounting holes. These holes are vital for securely attaching all subsequent components, including the DC motors for the wheels, the Arduino Nano board, the L298N motor drivers, and the HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor. A specific focus will be placed on designing a dedicated mount for the HC-SR04 sensor, ensuring its optimal placement and stability. Furthermore, students will learn to design a hitch point on the chassis for a potential battery trailer, addressing the practical challenge of battery weight and its impact on robot performance. The module then transitions to hands-on electronics, introducing basic Arduino programming for motor control and understanding fundamental wiring principles. The culmination involves physically assembling all these components onto the custom-designed chassis, leading to a comprehensive power-on self-test to verify all connections and initial functionality.",
  "capstoneProject": "A fully assembled robot with a custom-designed chassis plate, capable of passing a \"power-on self-test\" (motors twitch, sensor light blinks), and demonstrating motor control via code.",
  "technologiesUsed": [
    "Tinkercad",
    "3D printer",
    "Arduino IDE",
    "Arduino Nano",
    "breadboards",
    "DC Motors (for wheels)",
    "L298N motor drivers",
    "HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor",
    "wires",
    "AA batteries",
    "hand tools"
  ],
  "coreConcepts": [
    "CAD software basics (sketching, extrusion, .stl export)",
    "3D printing concepts",
    "designing chassis with mounting holes for components (motors, boards, sensors, battery trailer hitch)",
    "building sensor mounts (HC-SR04)",
    "Arduino IDE",
    "basic programming (variables, loops, conditionals)",
    "motor control",
    "basic electronics wiring",
    "physical assembly",
    "power management and battery considerations (weight, external power with trailers)",
    "power-on self-test"
  ],
  "blueprints": [
    {
      "blueprintID": "RC-1.1-BP1",
      "blueprintTitle": "Practice and Intro to Tinkercad",
      "coreObjective": "Students will learn the basics of Tinkercad by designing simple objects like a keychain, bookmark, and phone stand.",
      "technologiesUsed": [
        "Tinkercad"
      ],
      "coreConcepts": [
        "Tinkercad interface",
        "basic shapes",
        "grouping",
        "aligning",
        "exporting .stl"
      ],
      "lessonKnowledge": "Students will know how to navigate Tinkercad, manipulate basic shapes, combine them, and export simple 3D models.",
      "previousLessonKnowledge": "None"
    },
    {
      "blueprintID": "RC-1.1-BP2",
      "blueprintTitle": "Introduction to CAD & Basic Chassis Design",
      "coreObjective": "Students will learn the basics of Tinkercad and design the fundamental shape of their robot's chassis plate, including examining a completed robot chassis to observe and visualize how Arduino, motors, and mounts are supposed to fit before actually starting.",
      "technologiesUsed": [
        "Tinkercad"
      ],
      "coreConcepts": [
        "CAD software interface",
        "basic sketching",
        "extrusion",
        "designing simple shapes",
        "observing completed robot chassis for component visualization"
      ],
      "lessonKnowledge": "Students will know how to navigate Tinkercad, create basic 2D shapes, extrude them into 3D objects, form the base structure of their robot chassis, and understand component placement from a completed example.",
      "previousLessonKnowledge": "Students should have completed the 'Practice and Intro to Tinkercad' blueprint."
    },
    {
      "blueprintID": "RC-1.1-BP3",
      "blueprintTitle": "Adding Component Mounting Holes to Chassis",
      "coreObjective": "Students will learn to add precise mounting holes to their chassis design for key components like motors, the Arduino Nano, and the L298N motor driver.",
      "technologiesUsed": [
        "Tinkercad"
      ],
      "coreConcepts": [
        "precise placement",
        "creating holes",
        "component dimensions",
        "planning component layout"
      ],
      "lessonKnowledge": "Students will know how to measure components or use their dimensions to add accurately placed holes to their chassis design, preparing it for physical assembly.",
      "previousLessonKnowledge": "Students should know how to create the basic chassis shape in Tinkercad and have observed a completed robot chassis."
    },
    {
      "blueprintID": "RC-1.1-BP4",
      "blueprintTitle": "Designing Sensor Mounts & Battery Hitch",
      "coreObjective": "Students will design a dedicated mount for the HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor and a hitch point for a potential battery trailer on their chassis.",
      "technologiesUsed": [
        "Tinkercad"
      ],
      "coreConcepts": [
        "designing functional mounts",
        "sensor placement considerations",
        "designing hitch points",
        "considering external components (battery trailer)"
      ],
      "lessonKnowledge": "Students will know how to design specific structures on their chassis to hold sensors securely and create connection points for external elements like a battery trailer.",
      "previousLessonKnowledge": "Students should know how to add basic mounting holes for main components to their chassis design."
    },
    {
      "blueprintID": "RC-1.1-BP5",
      "blueprintTitle": "Introduction to Arduino IDE & Setup",
      "coreObjective": "Students will set up the Arduino IDE and connect their Arduino Nano board to the computer, preparing for programming.",
      "technologiesUsed": [
        "Arduino IDE",
        "Arduino Nano"
      ],
      "coreConcepts": [
        "Arduino IDE installation",
        "board selection",
        "port selection",
        "uploading basic sketches (e.g., Blink - optional, or just verifying connection)"
      ],
      "lessonKnowledge": "Students will know how to install and configure the Arduino IDE, connect their Arduino Nano, and verify communication between the computer and the board.",
      "previousLessonKnowledge": "Students should have completed the CAD design for their chassis, including sensor mounts and battery hitch."
    },
    {
      "blueprintID": "RC-1.1-BP6",
      "blueprintTitle": "Basic Electronics Wiring: Motors & Drivers",
      "coreObjective": "Students will learn basic electronics wiring principles and connect the DC motors to the L298N motor driver and the motor driver to the Arduino Nano.",
      "technologiesUsed": [
        "Arduino Nano",
        "breadboards",
        "DC Motors (for wheels)",
        "L298N motor drivers",
        "wires",
        "AA batteries"
      ],
      "coreConcepts": [
        "basic circuit concepts",
        "wiring diagrams",
        "connecting motors to drivers",
        "connecting drivers to microcontrollers",
        "powering components"
      ],
      "lessonKnowledge": "Students will know how to follow a wiring diagram to connect DC motors to an L298N motor driver and interface the driver with an Arduino Nano.",
      "previousLessonKnowledge": "Students should have the Arduino IDE set up and their board connected."
    },
    {
      "blueprintID": "RC-1.1-BP7",
      "blueprintTitle": "Programming Basic Motor Control",
      "coreObjective": "Students will write and upload code to the Arduino Nano to control the DC motors via the L298N driver, enabling basic robot movement (forward, backward, stop).",
      "technologiesUsed": [
        "Arduino IDE",
        "Arduino Nano",
        "L298N motor drivers"
      ],
      "coreConcepts": [
        "basic programming syntax (variables, functions)",
        "digitalWrite",
        "analogWrite (for speed control, if applicable)",
        "interfacing with motor drivers",
        "writing functions for movement"
      ],
      "lessonKnowledge": "Students will know how to write Arduino code to send signals to the L298N motor driver to control the direction and speed of the DC motors.",
      "previousLessonKnowledge": "Students should have completed the basic electronics wiring for the motors and driver and have the Arduino IDE set up."
    },
    {
      "blueprintID": "RC-1.1-BP8",
      "blueprintTitle": "Physical Assembly & Power-On Self-Test",
      "coreObjective": "Students will physically assemble all components onto their 3D printed chassis, complete final wiring, and perform a power-on self-test to verify basic functionality.",
      "technologiesUsed": [
        "3D printer",
        "Arduino Nano",
        "DC Motors (for wheels)",
        "L298N motor drivers",
        "HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor",
        "wires",
        "AA batteries",
        "hand tools"
      ],
      "coreConcepts": [
        "physical assembly techniques",
        "securing components",
        "final wiring checks",
        "powering the robot",
        "troubleshooting connections",
        "power-on self-test"
      ],
      "lessonKnowledge": "Students will know how to physically build their robot by attaching components to the custom chassis, complete the necessary wiring, and perform an initial test to ensure power distribution and basic component responses.",
      "previousLessonKnowledge": "Students should have their chassis 3D printed, all components ready, and basic motor control code written."
    }
  ]
}