STEAM DISCOVERY LAB
  • About
  • Tools
  • Projects
  • Resources
  • About
  • Tools
  • Projects
  • Resources
Search

Projectile Launcher

Picture
Lesson Objectives:
  1. Students will build a catapult using an EV3 and LEGO pieces.
  2. ​Students will understand how to apply projectile motion physics in real world programming using Python.

​Materials:
  • EV3 Lego Robotics Kit w/Wifi Dongle and SD card
  • Laptop & wifi connection
  • Cup & Ball
  • Any other LEGO pieces needed to build the catapult
Click here for build instructions and other related info
Let's Get Started!

The link for the build instructions and other relevant information is provided above. Feel free to incorporate your own designs and ideas into the design.
This next part requires you to understand projectile motion. Encourage the advanced students to derive the formula for the required velocity of a projectile that is launched from a certain height and needs to land at a certain x distance. For those who haven't learned this yet, you can do so now! Here is a link to some helpful equations to get students started on the derivation.
Click here to learn about projectile motion!
You should end up with something that looks like this:
Picture
Now that we have an equation that tells us how fast the ball needs to go, we can begin writing our code!

The first step, as always, is to define the sensors and motors we will be using. We then want to collect the distance readings from the ultrasonic sensor and the vertical distance from the ultrasonic distance to the launcher, and then plug these numbers into the formula above. 

An example code is provided below.

    
 As you can see, the formula we used looks similar to the derived one above but has been modified. This was the result of numerous tests and the changes made were to account for issues such as the friction in the motors and the inaccuracies in the ultrasonic sensor to name a few. This would be a good way to teach students to adapt to real world conditions.
Here's a video of the projectile launcher we made!
Picture
200 Boston Ave, Medford, MA 02155
steamdiscoverylab@gmail.com
Center for Engineering Education and Outreach
​Tufts University
About
Tools
Projects
Resources
​
Contact
LEGO®, the LEGO® logo, the Brick, MINDSTORMS®, and the Minifigure are trademarks of ©The LEGO® Group. On some parts of this site  you will get access to so-called “developer software”, which offers documentation on different ways to operate the LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Prime Hub and technology. Whatever use you make of the developer software, bear in mind that the results are not experiences that the LEGO Group endorses, is with or will be liable for. No rights in or to trademarks of the LEGO Group are implied or given, and you may not apply to or register any protection anywhere in the world for intellectual property or industrial rights or similar in respect of any developer software, derivative or other result achieved through its use. The developer software is made available “as is” and, to the extent possible, no warranties or representations are implied or given in relation to it by the LEGO Group. It’s your responsibility to ensure all uses that you make and enable others to make comply with all applicable laws and best practices. By accessing the developer software, you acknowledge that the terms and conditions set out above and in LEGO Education’s terms of use for SPIKE Prime apply.
  • About
  • Tools
  • Projects
  • Resources