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ALL MAKE GUIDES


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

  1. Lighthouse
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  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
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  1. Light Show
  2. Light Show Animation

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Robotics expedition

Mission 3 of 8

Robotics expedition: Mission 3 of 8

Resistor Piano


Advanced

1 hour

Grades 3 - 8
MISSION OBJECTIVE

Learn to create a piano using resistors.

Take our musical talents to the next level as Piperbot and Pip jam out with their new Adult Zomar buddy on a piano made of resistors. Ask students: “What is your code measuring to know when and what sound to play? How is this different from your ultrasonic drum?”

View student interface at make.playpiper.com
MISSION CHARACTERS

Piperbot

Pip

Adult Zomar
Meet
the Cast
  Print Educator Guide   Student Worksheet    Student Quiz    Support
MISSION MATERIALS
MISSION RESOURCES Learning Goals Career Connections Hardware Diagram Code Diagram Tutorial Steps Blueprint Troubleshooting Tips
EXPANDED RESOURCES Term Glossary Standards Alignment
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MISSION MATERIALS

Computer with USB port and Chrome or Edge browser
Piper Make Base Station or Starter Kit
MISSION RESOURCES

Learning Goals

  1. Students will create a panel of resistors and use a jumper wire to “play notes” and craft musical creations.
  2. Students will understand how to use lists and mapping in code to map a voltage to a sound.
  3. Students will understand how voltage drops are associated with the number of resistors set up in series, as shown in the circuitry.

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




Code Diagram




Tutorial Steps

Resistor Piano

Blueprint

DOWNLOAD BLUEPRINT

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

Troubleshooting Tips

  • Are some notes failing to play when you touch the jumper wire to the resistors?
    • Make sure you touch the jumper wire to the metal part of the resistor instead of the plastic.
    • Ensure that you have set up the resistors correctly with the metal leads lined up along the rails so they complete the circuit. Check the wiring diagram if you’re not sure.
  • Why do you have to be careful with the top portion of the Pico?
    • Touching the green wire to the areas marked with the yellow triangles ⚠️ will cause a short circuit and could damage your Pico module. Be careful!

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

Term Glossary


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

Feedback Sensors Instruments that robots can use to make adjustments based on their readings.

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

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

Bionics When we use biological systems (e.g., dogs, humans) to develop and design new robots.

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Standards Alignment


CSTA Framework   Robotic Walker Standards Alignment   Robotic Rover Standards Alignment
ISTE Framework   Robotic Walker Standards Alignment   Robotic Rover Standards Alignment
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