Getting Started with Your Rascal
Set:
Overview of Tutorials and References
Printables (.pdf)
Overview
This section is intended for the Instructor just getting started the
Rascal Set.
We begin with a Quick Start which takes about 2 hours and will
give you and your students the basic knowledge to build and program (using our
easy-to-learn Teach Mode) any of the 11 example constructions that are
detailed in the Rascal Project
Book.
If you choose to go further, follow the In Depth path to learn
more about the Robix software and build more sophisticated projects.
Quick Start
Please start by printing and posting our Safety
Sheet. Robots pose novel and surprising safety problems and students need
to be educated about them. Even though the Rascal sets motors are
(intentionally) not very powerful, safety precautions should be followed to
reduce the chance of mishap.
Now take 11 minutes to view the Example Projects Video. This
video is available on the CD that came with Rascal set, or you can
download it here. This video
will get your students in the mood to learn more.
Next, to begin to get familiar with the mechanical components of the
Rascal, take a couple of minutes to examine the laminated Quick Reference
Card that came with the Rascal set. If you do not have the card or if you
would like extra copies to hand out, you can download and print it here.
Now it's time to watch the 30 minute Construction Techniques
Video (on the CD or download
here) and build your first robot arm by following the step-by-step
instructions. This will take about 1 hour. After this initial learning session,
other constructions will typically take no more than 30 minutes.
Next, go through Part I of Robix Software Tutorials. You may
print this document as desired. Part I of the Tutorial does not explore all of
the features of the software. Instead, it is intended to get you going in
minimum time.
Finally, to complete the Quick Start, pick a project and build and
program it. If you're undecided, we suggest the Snake or the Thrower. Look to upper left on each of these
project pages to find the link to view/print the individual project's manual
pages.
Software Tutorial in Depth
The Tutorial in Depth continues where the Quick Start ends. Work
through Part II of Robix Software
Tutorials and then scan the Robix Scripting Reference.
You should now have a good working knowledge of the Rascal set and its
software. Building a more challenging project such as the
coffee maker or some variation on
that theme might be your next step.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
| 
