Design Technology - RoboWars! (Upper Key Stage 2)

Design Brief: Design and Make a Controllable Robot Buggy to take part in the Class RoboWars!

Sequence of Learning for Teachers
In this unit of work children design and make a robot buggy that is controllable by using Crumble Kit and programmed for random movement using computer block coding. As part of this project children learn about how electric vehicles work and the story of Elon Musk and his inventions and achievements. Children embark on a series of focus tasks to create a vehicle chassis to which other electrical components are added to make their controllable vehicle. They learn how to apply their knowledge of computer block code to program their vehicle to successfully complete a series of ‘test track’ tasks before their vehicle is allowed to take part in the class RoboWars. Children evaluate their project by making a short documentary film, a display stand or by taking part in a ‘show and tell’ event.
This knowledge, skills and understanding is delivered through the following six sessions:

1. Investigate 1 – Robo Wars!
2. Focus Task 1: Creating the Chassis.
3. Focus Task 2: Vehicle Control.
4. Design and Make: Buggy Designing and Making.
5. Design and Make:Test Track.
6. Evaluation: The Robo Wars Competition – Let Battle Commence!

Some activities / sessions can be re-arranged or delivered in different ways in the learning sequence to allow for whole-class teaching and/or small adult-led sessions to take place at the same time.