WeDo2 Creature Companion

thingiverse

The WeDo2 Companion System is a cutting-edge solution designed to house the LEGO WeDo2 Smart Hub and two sensors, tilt and motion. Created specifically for FIRST LEGO League Junior's Creature Craze season, this system allows students to design models that showcase the wonders of the animal kingdom. The Companion System attaches seamlessly to a dog backpack, enabling the sensor to collect data on the dog's movement. I Designed This Feature The WeDo2 Companion System boasts two key components. The Smart Hub box securely fits the Smart Hub with a slide-on cover, featuring four slits for plastic wire ties that lace through to the Sensor box. The Sensor box has several LEGO-compatible studs that press the sensors down firmly, along with three windows for precise sensor positioning. A Front View of the System The Sensor Box and Smart Hub Box are cleverly designed with the Smart Hub box attached upside down, ensuring the logo is facing upwards and the power button remains accessible underneath. Two 2x4 LEGO plates hold two sensors together, keeping them aligned and reducing distance between the top and cover. Cable Organization Cables are organized through the rear window of both boxes, maintaining a clutter-free design. The power switch is easily accessible through a window in the Smart Hub cover. The Smart Hub cover slides off effortlessly through grooves, making maintenance a breeze. View of Wire Ties Wire ties pass through the ends of the system, keeping everything secure. These ties can be cut after removing the Companion System from the dog backpack. Project Overview The WeDo2 Creature Companion is an innovative tool that enables educators to challenge students with real-world animal-related tasks, such as working with dogs. This system makes it easy for teachers to attach a LEGO WeDo2 Smart Hub and sensors to any animal wearing a similar backpack to a dog. Educator Benefits Educators will find the WeDo2 Companion System an ideal solution for attaching a LEGO WeDo2 Smart Hub with tilt and motion sensors to any animal that can carry something similar to a dog backpack. This system is designed to make programming and data collection accessible to students of all skill levels. Objectives Students will learn to collect data from the animal's motions and proximity to objects, then program their code to create events such as sounds, pictures, or messages. This project aligns with various learning standards and can be adapted for different grade levels. Audience and Subjects The WeDo2 Creature Companion is suitable for K-4 students, depending on the level of complexity desired by educators. The system itself is relatively easy to install on a dog backpack, making it an excellent tool for computer science education. Skills Learned (Standards) K-2-ETS1-1: Ask questions and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool. K-2-ETS1-2: Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem. K-2-ETS1-3: Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare their strengths and weaknesses. Lesson/Activity Duration: Educators have flexibility in customizing the duration based on the complexity of programming desired. For Kindergartners, it could be as simple as having a sound played when the animal moves, while for 3rd Grade students, they can create a counter to measure how long the animal is moving or how many times the animal moves around. Preparation: Time to print the Companion System and attach it with wire ties is relatively straightforward. The Smart Hub case has an open area for easy access to the power button. References FIRST LEGO League Jr. Challenge & Season Info: http://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/flljr LEGO Education WeDo 2.0: https://education.lego.com/en-gb/primary/explore/science https://education.lego.com/en-gb/products/wedo-2-0-core-set/45300 Outward Hound Dog Backpack: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UTA1G4/ref=sr_ph_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472790038&sr=sr-1 You can learn more about the LEGO Education WeDo 2.0 system from official videos on YouTube linked below. This is an educator-designed 3D model and is not affiliated with any official LEGO products.