Robotic Sunflower

Image of a microcontroller
Lesson 1: Measuring Voltage Using A Microcontroller

This lesson was developed as the first in a unit that culminates in the construction of a robotic sunflower that tracks the sun. While it will provide a lot of the foundational knowledge that the rest of the unit will be built on, it is helpful if students have some understanding of basic electricity concepts, including voltage, current, resistance, how a diode works and how to use a multimeter.

Lesson 2: Controlling A Servo

This lesson was developed as the second in a unit that culminates in the construction of a robotic sunflower that tracks the sun. works and how to use a multimeter. This lesson focuses on students applying the pulse witch modulation to a servo from a Basic Stamp. Throughout this lesson, students will synthesize two circuit designs using one to control the other through the Basic Stamp.

Lesson 3: Creating a Light Tracking Servo

This lesson was developed as the third in a unit that culminates in the construction of a robotic sunflower that tracks the sun. This lesson focuses on how to program the Basic Stamp to use information from two photoresistors to point a servo at a light source. This will be the first degree of freedom for the flower head.

Lesson 4: Dual Axis Light Tracking

This lesson was developed as the fourth in a unit that culminates in the construction of a robotic sunflower that tracks the sun. This lesson focuses on create a solar tracker with two degrees of freedom, on the horizontal and vertical.

Lesson 5: Integrating Solar Power

This lesson was developed as the fifth and final lesson in a unit that culminates in the construction of a robotic sunflower that tracks the sun. This lesson focuses on create voltage regulator and construct a solar battery charge to integrate solar energy into the project.

5 Lessons / 9 hours 10 mins

This unit culminates in the construction of a robotic sunflower that tracks the sun. Each lesson builds the foundational knowledge needed to wire and program this project. Students will utilize basic electronics concept while using Basic Stamp to program servos and DC motors to use information from photoresistors. The final project will have multiple axis of movement with which it tracks the sun, and will utilize a solar battery.

Overview