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Sensors expedition

Mission 5 of 6

Sensors expedition: Mission 5 of 6

Color Coded


Intermediate

1 hour

Grades 3 - 8
MISSION OBJECTIVE

Learn to create a secret coded message with color.

Help Piperbot and Pip get into Maker’s City by decoding the color sequence from the color wheel. Ask: “How does the Color Sensor interpret color from light that bounces back to the sensor? Can it tell between different shades of the same color?

View student interface at make.playpiper.com
MISSION CHARACTERS

Piperbot

Pip
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the Cast
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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
Color Sensor
MISSION RESOURCES

Learning Goals

  1. Students will use the Color Sensor to “read” and report colors and to map colors to different words/letters to create a secret code to share.
  2. Students will understand the coding elements of if/then statements and interface with the Color Sensor using different graphical views on Piper Make.
  3. Students will understand the fundamental concepts of how they perceive color in the world around them.

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

Color Coded

Blueprint

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

Troubleshooting Tips

  • Is the Color Sensor not detecting color?
    • Ensure that the Color Sensor is on. A small switch on the Sensor must be on for it to work (you will see a white LED turn on when this is correct).
    • Ensure that you’ve plugged the wires into the right GPIO. Look at the Digital View to see which pin you’re affecting.
  • How does the Color Sensor work?
    • Color Sensors emit a white light and then measure the red, green, and blue wavelengths that bounce back. Based on the amount of red, green, and blue light that bounces back, we can figure out what color the Sensor looks at.

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


Engineer Someone who designs, builds, or fixes things to solve problems.

Sensor A device that produces an output signal to sense a physical phenomenon.

Conditional Statement A coding instruction used to compare values and express and make decisions, like an if-then statement.

List A sequence of several values grouped under a single name in code. A group of items or components. A tool used to store multiple pieces of information at once.

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Standards Alignment


Individual Standards
  • CA 3-5.CS.1 Describe how computing devices connect to other components to form a system. (P7.2)
  • 3-5.AP.18 Perform different roles when collaborating with peers during the design, implementation, and review stages of program development.
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