L6 — Edison Final Challenge

Lesson 6 of 6

Edison Final Challenge

Design → Build → Test → Evaluate → Export

Year 9 · Robotics with Edisons

Learning Objectives

1Design an original Edison program using a flowchart, specifying sensors and features to be used

2Implement the design in EdPy — code must include movement, a loop, and a conditional

3Evaluate the program critically, identifying what works, what could be improved, and rating code quality

This lesson is assessed. Students should export their completed PDF portfolio at the end. The portfolio includes all evidence from Lessons 1–6.

Prep: Ensure all Edisons are charged. Have EdBuild claws available for students who want to use them. Clear desk space or floor space for testing. Display student.html on board so students remember to export PDF.

Slide 2 / 6

Challenge Ideas

Inspiration — but students can design their own

🏎️

Race Car

Drive + obstacle avoidance + beep on detection. Add speed boost (SPEED_8) on clear road.

📦

Delivery Bot

Line follower + claw picks up a package. Drop at destination (stop at black cross).

🎵

Dance Bot

Sequence of moves + beeps. Triggered by clap. Loops the routine a set number of times.

🧱

Maze Runner

Wall-follow using left/right obstacle sensors. Random turn on OBSTACLE_AHEAD.

🦺

Safety Patrol

Drive forward until obstacle, reverse, sound alarm (beep loop), wait for clap to resume.

💡

Own Design

Students design their own. Must include: movement + loop + condition. Teacher approves design first.

Key rule: Students must be able to explain EVERY line of their code. "I copied it from the internet" is not acceptable — they should only use commands they have been taught.

Slide 3 / 6

Assessment Criteria

What makes a strong submission

Marking Bands

5

Excellent: All requirements met. Code uses named variables throughout, includes comments, uses multiple sensors/conditions. Flowchart precisely matches code. Evaluation is specific and self-critical.

4

Good: All requirements met. Named variables used. At least one sensor condition working. Flowchart present. Evaluation answers all three questions with some depth.

3

Satisfactory: Movement, loop, and condition all present but one may be incomplete or buggy. Some named variables. Flowchart has minor errors. Evaluation is brief.

2

Developing: Movement and a loop present but condition is missing or non-functional. Uses magic numbers. Flowchart incomplete. Limited evaluation.

1

Beginning: Only basic movement present. No loop or condition. No flowchart. No meaningful evaluation.

The PDF portfolio counts as the submission. Students must export it at the end of this lesson. Remind them 15 minutes before the end.

Slide 4 / 6

Good Code vs Poor Code

Show students what you're looking for

❌ Poor Example

import Ed
Ed.EdisonVersion = Ed.V3
Ed.DistanceUnits = Ed.CM
Ed.Tempo = Ed.TEMPO_MEDIUM

for i in range(4):
    Ed.Drive(Ed.FORWARD, Ed.SPEED_3, 20)
    Ed.TurnRight(Ed.SPEED_3, 90)

while True:
    if Ed.ReadObstacleDetection() == Ed.OBSTACLE_AHEAD:
        Ed.Drive(Ed.BACKWARD, Ed.SPEED_5, 5)
        Ed.TurnLeft(Ed.SPEED_5, 90)
    else:
        Ed.Drive(Ed.FORWARD, Ed.SPEED_3, Ed.DISTANCE_UNLIMITED)

Problems: magic numbers everywhere, no comments, purpose is unclear, two unrelated behaviours stitched together with no explanation.

✅ Strong Example

import Ed
Ed.EdisonVersion = Ed.V3
Ed.DistanceUnits = Ed.CM
Ed.Tempo = Ed.TEMPO_MEDIUM

# === PATROL BOT ===
# Drives in a square then avoids obstacles

# Square patrol
sides = 4
side_len = 20
turn = 90
speed = Ed.SPEED_3

for i in range(sides):
    Ed.Drive(Ed.FORWARD, speed, side_len)
    Ed.TurnRight(speed, turn)

# Obstacle avoidance loop
rev_dist = 5
while True:
    obs = Ed.ReadObstacleDetection()
    if obs == Ed.OBSTACLE_AHEAD:
        Ed.PlayBeep()
        Ed.Drive(Ed.BACKWARD, Ed.SPEED_5, rev_dist)
        Ed.TurnLeft(Ed.SPEED_5, turn)
    else:
        Ed.Drive(Ed.FORWARD, speed, Ed.DISTANCE_UNLIMITED)

Slide 5 / 6

Student Task

Design → Build → Evaluate → Export PDF

Direct students to: student.html → L6 Edison Final Challenge. Steps 1–3. Step 3 includes PDF export.

1Step 1 — Design (10 min): Write what their robot will do in plain English. Draw a flowchart. Label which commands they'll use. Upload flowchart photo.

2Step 2 — Build & Test (25 min): Code in EdPy. Download and test. Debug until working. Upload final code screenshot.

3Step 3 — Evaluate & Export (10 min): Answer all three evaluation questions. Rate code quality 1–5 with justification. Export PDF portfolio.

🥉 Bronze

Working program with movement + loop + condition. Design and evaluation completed.

🥈 Silver

+ Named variables throughout. Comments explaining each section. Flowchart precisely matches code.

🥇 Gold

+ Uses two or more different sensors. Evaluation identifies specific code improvements with examples.

Slide 6 / 6

Unit Complete

Celebrate, reflect, and look ahead

Unit Summary — Robotics with Edisons

🤖

L1: Meet Edison

🐍

L2: Moving with EdPy

🔄

L3: Loops & Shapes

🔀

L4: Flowcharts & Sensors

🦾

L5: Claw & Sensing

🏆

L6: Final Challenge

Final Reflection — Whole Class

"Name ONE concept from this unit that you will remember in 5 years, and explain why it applies beyond just robotics."

🔗 Links to GCSE

Algorithms & flowcharts (J277 1.2)
Selection and iteration (J277 2.2)
Boolean logic (J277 1.4)
Hardware and I/O (J277 1.1)

📥 Collecting Submissions

Students email or upload their PDF portfolio to your usual submission channel. The PDF contains all screenshots, reflections, and evaluation from every lesson. No other file needed.