Robotics Programming is a hands on programming course using Lego Mindstorms™ robots.  Students will build working robots, and then program them using the "Not Quite C" or NQC programming language, a modified version of C for use on the Mindstorm brick.  While many cool robots will be built, the focus of the course is on programming rather than engineering.

The Robotics Programming course is a project based course.  Our first projects will all be based on a simple "Tank" robot.  We will first teach the tank to drive forward a certain distance.   We will then teach it to turn, move backward, etc.  Then we will add "bumpers" so the tank knows when it cannot move forward any more.  We will use light sensors to make our tanks follow a line on the ground.

In each project, new programming concepts will be introduced.

In the second quarter, students will create and program a robot of their own choosing, to complete a task or to compete against another group or groups in the class.

Students will be working in small groups (two or three students) to build robots and often individually to program the 'bots.