Learn to build a functioning pulse sensor and measure your heart rate.
In this mission, Piperbot and Pip find themselves on a new, swampy planet that makes Pip tired! To figure out if Pip’s pulse has slowed down, you build a heart rate sensor and use it to measure your pulse.
Students will learn about the tools used in a doctor’s office, including a stethoscope, thermometer, scale, electrocardiogram, and blood pressure monitor.
Students will gain knowledge of how ultrasound technology works.
Students will learn about the organ systems in the human body (including muscular, skeletal, circulatory, nervous, and digestive) and how we use different technologies to study them.
Students learn a healthy heart rate and how a heart pumps blood into vessels, changing pressure, which is measurable.
Students understand how to measure a heart rate by looking at the interval between high points, or peaks, in graphed data.
Students learn how smartwatches can measure heart rate.
Learning Activities
The following sections will contain step by step instructions for ELA, ELD and Math extensions directly related to this mission. Adjust the directions to fit your ELA, ELD and Math standards.
ELA Extension: Bio-med Tech Tools
Start by asking your students to think about their last doctor’s visit. Now ask:
Did the doctor or the nurse measure anything?
What tools do you remember?
What about outside the doctor’s office?
Does anyone have a smartwatch?
Ask your students to come to the board and draw any tools they saw in the doctor’s office. Some common ones are the following:
ELD Extension: Bio-med Tech Tools
There are so many things our bodies can do, but when something goes wrong, it can cause people to become very sick. Luckily, we’ve figured out how to use technology to study our body's systems.
Math Extension: Ultrasonic Range Finder as Ultrasound
This OPTIONAL mission is not a Piper Make mission but rather an illustration of how we can use ultrasound in medicine. All you need is a few sheets of graph paper, scissors, and tape.
⚠️ This challenge requires the ULTRASONIC RANGE FINDER (Sensors or Robotics).
Career Connections
Remote Sensing Technician: Salary $50,290/yr
Security/Fire System Installers: Salary $50,130/yr
Step 1 on the blueprint refers to the bottom piece. Center the velcro piece as the diagram shows in Step 1.
If a message pops up when you connect your Pico to Piper Make telling you that your firmware needs to be updated, accept, and follow the directions.
Do not press hard on the sensor; a light touch with the thumb is all you need. Play around with which fingers get a more accurate result.
For younger students, if they are having difficulty with Step 2 of the assembly, they may find it easier to put the pieces together with all 4 'legs' on the table as if Step 2 shows them unfolded.
The O-Ring may be too tight. Take it off and have the student lightly close the Pulse instead. Alternatively, you could have them use a rubber band or hair tie, or they can tighten the screws, which will help hold the Pulse in the position they want.
SENSORS EXPEDITION RESOURCES
Material Library
Coming Soon!
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.
Computer with USB port and Chrome or Edge browser
Piper Make Base Station or Starter Kit
Piper Make Pulse
Remote Sensing Technician: Salary $50,290/yr
Security/Fire System Installers: Salary $50,130/yr
Computer Hardware Engineer: Salary $132,360/yr
Hydrologic Technician: Salary $53,360/yr
