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Year 11 - Computing

Working with motors

Using physical computing to create a robot buggy

Unit Summary

This unit introduces pupils to physical computing by building a robotic buggy. They will use a Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller to explore inputs and outputs, and utilise a range of hardware components, including motors, reflective optical sensors, LEDs, and an ultrasonic sensor.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to connect, test and set up motors using a motor controller board.

Key Notes

  • Motors convert electrical energy into motion.
  • Microcontrollers cannot drive motors directly.
  • Motor drivers are needed to safely control motors.
  • The direction and speed of motors can be controlled with code.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • pin: a physical connection point on a microcontroller, microprocessor or electronic component
  • ground (GND): acts as the return path for electric current and is essential for a circuit to work properly
  • motor controller: hardware that takes signals and manages how a motor behaves
  • library: a collection of pre-written code that you can use to make programming easier and faster

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • You can connect a motor directly to a microcontroller and it will work fine.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Describe the system or process from this lesson in clear steps.

Motors convert electrical energy into motion. Microcontrollers cannot drive motors directly.

2. Define this computing term and give one practical example. 'pin'

a physical connection point on a microcontroller, microprocessor or electronic component. Add one real device or system example to prove understanding.

3. Correct this common computing misconception.

Mistake: You can connect a motor directly to a microcontroller and it will work fine. Correction: Microcontrollers send control signals, not power. Motor drivers act like electronic switches to take a signal and safely drive the motors with their own power supply.

More Lessons In This Unit

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