Sphero Orbit Coding Log
STEM ROBOTICS LAB
SPHERO ORBIT CODING LOG
4-BLOCK SEQUENCE
SYS.VER // 3.3.26
NAVIGATOR (NAME)
TEAM CODE / HULL #
DATE / CHRONO
Mission Goal: Predict and program up to 4 movement blocks to run your Sphero Mini through the target arena. Use 5 trial runs to systematically diagnose, correct, and optimize.
H: Heading (0-360°)
S: Speed (%) | T: Time (s)
| Trial | Block 01 | Block 02 | Block 03 | Block 04 | Results & Corrections Panel |
|---|
| TRY 01 | | | | | |
| H:_____° | | | | | |
S:_____%
T:_____s
|
H:_____°
S:_____%
T:_____s
|
H:_____°
S:_____%
T:_____s
|
H:_____°
S:_____%
T:_____s
|
OBSERVATION & CORRECTION
How did it move / where did it stop?
Adjustment for Try 02:
|
| TRY 02 |
H:_____°
S:_____%
T:_____s
|
H:_____°
S:_____%
T:_____s
|
H:_____°
S:_____%
T:_____s
|
H:_____°
S:_____%
T:_____s
|
OBSERVATION & CORRECTION
How did it move / where did it stop?
Adjustment for Try 03:
|
| TRY 03 |
H:_____°
S:_____%
T:_____s
|
H:_____°
S:_____%
T:_____s
|
H:_____°
S:_____%
T:_____s
|
H:_____°
S:_____%
T:_____s
|
OBSERVATION & CORRECTION
How did it move / where did it stop?
Adjustment for Try 04:
|
| TRY 04 |
H:_____°
S:_____%
T:_____s
|
H:_____°
S:_____%
T:_____s
|
H:_____°
S:_____%
T:_____s
|
H:_____°
S:_____%
T:_____s
|
OBSERVATION & CORRECTION
How did it move / where did it stop?
Adjustment for Try 05:
|
| FINAL 05 |
H:_____°
S:_____%
T:_____s
|
H:_____°
S:_____%
T:_____s
|
H:_____°
S:_____%
T:_____s
|
H:_____°
S:_____%
T:_____s
|
FINAL RUN REPORT
Distance from absolute target:
What configuration finally worked?
|
THE SYSTEMATIC CONTROL RULE
Keep 3 parameters constant while adjusting only 1 parameter (e.g. adjust Time by +0.2s) in your next try. That isolates which variable causes changes!
TRIAL REFLECTION
Explain the relationship between Speed % and Time (s) to travel a fixed distance:
MISSION SEQUENCE: 4-BLOCK MULTI-TRIAL LOG SINGLE-PAGE CLASSROOM LOG SHEET
Sphero Orbit Teacher Guide
EDUCATOR INTEL & PACING
ORBIT TEACHER GUIDE
Facilitating Trial-and-Error Code Exploration
TEACHER MANUAL
CLASS.VER // 2.0.26
CORE PEDAGOGICAL PHILOSOPHY This lesson shifts students from passive guessing to systematic diagnosis. Instead of resetting after a failed run, students must treat every error as invaluable physical data. The worksheet forces them to document their trials, isolate their variables, and mathematically estimate their changes.
MISSION ARENA BLUEPRINT & SETUP
Construct arenas on smooth floors (wood or tile) or thin carpets. Use blue painter's tape to build the layout.
MISSION 01 SETUP
The Launchpad Runway
START 150 cm
- Start: Standard tape line.
- Target: A 20cm x 20cm tape box at exactly 150 cm.
- Challenge: Adjust speed and duration to coast perfectly into the landing box.
MISSION 02 SETUP
The Right-Angle Dogleg
START 100 cm 50 cm
- Leg 1: Straight 100 cm.
- Leg 2: Sharp right-angle turn, rolling straight up 50 cm.
- Challenge: Write consecutive blocks. Time delays are critical for stabilization!
THE #1 SOURCE OF STUDENT ERROR: CALIBRATION
The "Blue Dot" Standard Operating Procedure
Sphero Mini robots have no external front or back. They determine direction relative to an internal gyroscope. Before every single trial, students must place the robot on the start line and use the app to rotate the internal blue light (aim light) until it points directly backward at the driver. If this calibration is skipped, a heading of 0° will roll in random, unpredictable directions.
TEACHER COMPANION: ARENAS & CALIBRATION PAGE 1 / 2
TROUBLESHOOTING & ANALYSIS DRILL-DOWN
DIAG_MATRIX_02
CODE TROUBLESHOOTING MATRIX (THE "IF-THEN" DICTIONARY)
| Observed Behavior | Physical Cause | Corrective Coding Action |
|---|
| Robot drifts left of the line immediately | Calibration light was off-center or floor has slope/dust buildup. | Recalibrate the blue dot. If drift persists, adjust Heading to 1° to 3° to compensate. |
| Robot slides/drifts outwards on a 90° turn |
