Activity: Forklift Attachment

14 Sept

Use the forklift to move and stack meloncubes into increasingly taller towers. Calculate the correct times to power the servo to reach the maximum height.

Setup

Against a wall, set up a series of towers using solid materials. We generally use blocks of wood differing in height. Use multiple Meloncubes and practice picking them up using the forklift. Once this has been mastered, raise the fork to the heights of the various towers and stack the Meloncubes on each. Note that the forklift's maximum lift height is about 8cm off the ground.

To extend the students, task them with designing and printing a modular cube that can easily be picked up by the fork. These can be used to create stacked building blocks using the forklift.

To download the print file for the Meloncube, head on over to either Printables or Thingiverse:

Printables: MelonCube

Thingiverse: MelonCube

Here’s Our Approach

1) Move towards the Meloncube

Start by moving the rover towards the Meloncube.

2) Capture the Cube:

Next, we will set the continuous servo to turn on in one direction by powering it to 90. The delay will choose how long the servo will spin for. We will set the servo to 0 to turn it off.

3) Approach the Tower:

Once the fork has been lifted, the rover will move towards the tower and stop in front of it. This may vary depending on the distance from the tower.

Maybe add tape on the ground for the colour sensor to detect.

4) Deposit the Cube:

Once the tower has been reached, the fork should be lowered to the correct height for the tower. A delay of half a second was added to allow for the servo to settle. Finally, the rover will back away from the tower.

Complete Code:

Tip:

Try and design your own type of modular cubes that are easy to lift and stack. We’ve provided the measurements for the fork to make designing easier. Maybe you can start a construction project like building a city or a staircase!