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PIPER COMPUTER

Everything you need to teach STEAM effectivly using the Piper Computer Kit.

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PIPER MAKE

Teach fundamental STEM skills while providing a bridge to career connected learning.

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ALL MAKE GUIDES


  1. Security Zone
  2. Ultrasonic Drum
  3. Resistor Piano
  4. Walker Race
  5. Walker Dance
  6. Walker Detect
  7. Runaway Rover
  8. Rover Sensor Steering

  1. Lighthouse
  2. Frog Frenzy
  3. Game Controller
  4. Minecraft Controller

  1. Security Zone
  2. Ultrasonic Drum
  3. Resistor Piano
  4. Ther-Mood-Stat
  5. Color Coded
  6. Pulse

  1. Beam Break
  2. Car Race
  3. Motion Ball

  1. Solar House
  2. Soil Sensor
  3. Air Guitar

  1. Light Show
  2. Light Show Animation

PIPER MAKE

EDUCATOR GUIDES


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Robotics expedition

Mission 2 of 8

Robotics expedition: Mission 2 of 8

Ultrasonic Drum


Intermediate

1 hour

Grades 3 - 8

MISSION OBJECTIVE

Learn how to play the Ultrasonic Range Finder as an instrument.

Piperbot and Pip need help soothing Baby Zomar to sleep. Play your Ultrasonic Range Finder as an instrument to help. Ask students: “How does your instrument know when and what sound to play? How does an electric keyboard know how to make a sound?”

View student interface at make.playpiper.com
MISSION CHARACTERS

Piperbot

Pip

Baby Zomar
MISSION MATERIALS

Computer with USB port and Chrome or Edge browser
Piper Make Base Station or Starter Kit
Ultrasonic Range Finder

MISSION RESOURCES

Learning Goals

  1. Students will use the distance measured by your Ultrasonic Range Finder to play different notes like an instrument (particularly like a drum!).
  2. Students will understand how to use variables, loops, and conditionals to convert distances to different notes using list mapping.
  3. Students will understand how the Ultrasonic Range Finder measures distance using sound waves that bounce off objects.

Career Connections

Robotics Engineer: Salary $104,600/yr
Automotive Engineer: Salary $95,300/yr
Civil Engineer: Salary $88,050/yr
Electro-Mechanical and Mechtronics Technicians: Salary $60,570/yr

Hardware Diagram

Blueprint

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Have an different version? Look for more information on the Support Page.

Troubleshooting Tips

  • Is the Range Finder not measuring distance?
    • Pay extra attention to the wiring diagram for this one.
    • Verify all your electrical connections, including that your Pico is connected to your computer.
    • It is common for the connections to be off by 1 or 2 holes. We recommend going through each build to ensure the connections are correct.
    • Don’t worry! One of the wires (NC) does not need to be connected.
  • How does the Ultrasonic Range Finder work? 
    • The Ultrasonic Range Finder emits sound waves and measures the time it takes for them to bounce back. Measuring this determines the distance.

Our customer support specialists are on hand to ensure your implementation of Piper runs seamlessly.
View Support Docs or Contact Support
Robotics EXPEDITION RESOURCES

Vocabulary Words

Robot A device that can execute a task independent of direct human control or activity

Feedback Sensors Instruments that robots can use to adjust based on the environment

Servo Motor Self-contained electric devices that precisely rotate or push parts of a machine

Autonomous vehicle Vehicle that can operate without direct human control, usually through a built-in autopilot system

Bionics Using biological systems (e.g., dogs, humans) for the development and design of new robots

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Material Library

SERVO
A servo, which is short for servomotor, is a special kind of motor that is used to control something by moving it. A simple motor moved by spinning continuously. A servo turns to a specific position and it uses gears to transform the high speed of the motor into more force so it can move things more easily.

The servo is connected using three wires: one for ground, one for power, and one for a signal that tells the servo motor what position to turn to. The Pico tells the servo what position to turn to by changing the width of the pulse that it is sending out. A pulse with a shorter "ON" time will turn to one side, and a pulse with a longer "ON" time will turn to the opposite side.

The motor inside of the servo turns very fast, but it is also weak - it cannot apply very much force. The gears inside the servo convert the motor's high speed and low force into a slower speed with more force.

Standards Alignment