Innovative Challenge #3: Advanced Navigation Discovery Course
Learn how to navigate: similar to how robots do!
There are many ways we can find our way!
We use global positioning systems (GPS) in our everyday life. It’s in our mobile phones, cars and smart watches, giving us clear directions on how to reach certain places and the amount of time it takes. Moana uses a similar idea of tracking the stars, when she is searching for Maui!
But what happens when GPS is not available? Can we still find our way?
The good news is ‘yes’, there are certainly other ways to help us navigate - and they work extremely well!
Advanced Navigation is a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) navigation and robotic technology. In collaboration with them, we have created a fun, exciting challenge to help you learn the many different ways of navigating without using GPS.
This challenge will encourage you to put creativity and innovation to use and think like a real engineer!
The Challenge: Navigate like a True Explorer!
What you will need:
Several pieces of paper or something you can easily step on (for example, flowers, leaves, sticky notes). These will be placed on the ground as ‘markers’.
Print out this navigation tracker, if you don’t have a printer you can draw it on a piece of paper.
A buddy to help you complete the challenge (this can be a friend or family member).
A blindfold (this can be a towel, a bandana or a hoodie put on backwards), anything that will safely cover your eyes.
How to set up
Pick an open space in your home or outside.
Choose a starting point and place a marker on the ground.
Take a few steps forward so you are some distance away from the starting point, then place another marker on the ground.
Turn left or right, take 3-5 steps forward, place another marker on the ground.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all your ‘markers’ are placed on the ground, creating a path.
Your last marker is the endpoint.
TIP: The more ‘markers’ you place on the ground, the more challenging the course will be😉
With your Navigation Tracker and pencil ready, return to the starting point where your first marker is placed.
Then walk to the second marker, be careful to place one foot exactly in front of the other as you count the number of steps it takes to reach the next marker.
Once you reach the marker, write down the total number of steps it took on the Navigation Tracker.
Before you move towards the next marker, write down on the Navigation Tracker if you need to turn left or right to reach it.
Walk to the next marker and count the number of steps it took to reach it.
Write down the total number of steps it took on the Navigation Tracker.
Repeat steps 11-13 until you have reached the end point.
Once you reach the end point - you have successfully created a Navigation Tracker, congratulations!
Challenge 1 - Navigating with your eyes and ears!
Give your Navigation Tracker to your buddy.
Return to the starting point, facing the second marker.
Have your buddy slowly read out the number of steps and turns written on your Navigation Tracker.
Follow your buddy’s instructions closely as they read out how to navigate the course.
Were you able to reach the endpoint successfully?
Learning: This is similar to finding your way with GPS, which stands for Global Positioning System. GPS uses satellites that are far, far away in the sky to give people on Earth their location so they can work out where they need to go.
However, for this to work, you need to be able to ‘see’ the satellites - just like you saw your buddy!
We use GPS in our mobile phones and cars when we use maps. It works great until we can no longer ‘see’ the satellites. For example, if you are driving through a tunnel or through a busy city with lots of tall buildings, GPS may not work.
Can you think of other places where GPS may not work?
TIP: A great way to think of this is, if you can’t see the sky (where the satellites are orbiting), then it’s very likely GPS won’t work😉
Answers may include:
Inside buildings
Inside homes
Underground car parks
Underwater
Challenge 2 - Navigating with just your ears!
Return to the starting point facing the second marker.
Have you buddy safely blindfold you.
Have your buddy slowly read out the number of steps and turns written on your Navigation Tracker.
Follow your buddy’s instructions as they read out the steps and turns you need to take. Be sure to follow their instructions very closely, and do not make adjustments, even if you believe you have steered off course.
Once your buddy has finished reading out the steps, take off your blindfold.
Were you able to reach the endpoint successfully?
How far away were you from the endpoint?
Learning: This is similar to finding your way with inertial navigation. Inertial navigation is a guidance method used to figure out where you are going, even if you can't see where you are going.
You don’t need GPS to use inertial navigation, which means it’s a great solution for navigating when you can’t see any satellites. Similar to how you couldn’t see your buddy but still found a way to complete the course.
TIP: You probably noticed you were a little off from the end point (it’s tricky to navigate your way when you’re blindfolded). The distance between you and the end point is called a ‘drift’. The more markers you add, the further you will likely ‘drift’ from the endpoint 😉
Question: Can you think of a way to lessen your ‘drift’ so you are closer to the end point at the end of the course?
Challenge 3 - Navigating with artificial intelligence (AI)
Return to the starting point facing the second marker.
Have you buddy safely blindfold you.
Have your buddy slowly read out the number of steps and turns written on your Navigation Tracker, but this time have them provide additional hints along the way to help you. (For example, turn a little more to your left, one more step forward)
Follow your buddy’s instructions closely as they read out the steps and turns you need to take.
Once your buddy has finished reading out the steps with some additional pointers, take off your blindfold.
Were you able to reach the endpoint successfully?
How far away were you from the endpoint?
Learning: This is similar to finding your way with inertial navigation powered by artificial intelligence.
Artificial Intelligence (also called AI) is an incredibly smart computer that can learn how to solve problems all on its own, just like we do using our brains!
You can find AI in virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa and Google Home, even video games and smart toys can be powered by AI.
Advanced Navigation uses AI to improve drift to ensure you get as close to the endpoint as possible. Similar to how your buddy was providing you with extra assistance to reach the endpoint, AI provides extra assistance to inertial navigation systems.
Inertial navigation systems powered by AI can help robots find their way, steer self-driving cars and even help spacecraft reach the Moon, all on their own! This technology is becoming more advanced every day!
Question: Can you think of activities in your life where it may be helpful to have a second pair of hands or a second brain to help you solve a problem or complete a task?
Reflection: what have you learned?
● What is GPS?
GPS stands for global positioning system and uses satellites that are far, far away in the sky to give people on Earth their location so they can work out where they need to go.
● What is inertial navigation?
Inertial navigation is a guidance method used to figure out where you are going, even if you can't see where you are going. It also does not need GPS to work.
● What is drifting?
The distance you might be from your endpoint.
● What is artificial intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence is an incredibly smart computer that can learn how to solve problems all on its own, similar to how we solve problems using our brain.
Share your work with us!
Get your buddy or a family member to take photos or a video of you completing the challenge#3 for a chance to win a Lego Mindstorms Robot Inventor!!
Now send us your footage or photos! With your parent/guardian’s permission, send us an email with the SUBJECT LINE: challenge#3 to hello@gdostem.com.au All completed entries must be submitted by the closing of the event (March 12th at 5pm AEST Queensland time).
You might see your work on our GDOS socials 😊
And the added good news is that you are eligible to be in the draw for
this challenge#3 prizes which are…
Prizes 🎉
Lego Mindstorms Robot Inventor
Lego Mindstorms Robot Inventor is a robotic kit with over 1,000 Lego bricks so you can build your own robot! Plus, it comes with fun coding activities to complete with the Robot Inventor App.
You can build and program robots to move, make sounds, and interact with their environment. It comes with instructions for building five different robots, but you can also use your imagination to build your own robot. By using the mobile app, you can drag and drop blocks of code to make the robots move and complete new tasks.
Sphero Mini Robot Ball lets you build mazes, obstacles, towers and other courses to navigate through your home or outside!
If you are a beginner learner, you can drive and play STEM-inspired games with the Sphero Play App. If you are a bit more experienced, you can advance to programming with Block Based Coding or Javascript in the Sphero Edu App.
Equipped with a gyroscope, accelerometer, and colourful LED lights, this educational robot is more than a mini robot toy - it’s the perfect beginners guide into robotics!
