Quick Look 
- Grade Level:
- 5 (4 – 8)
- Lessons in this Unit:
- 1 2 3 4 5 6
- Time Required:
- 45 minutes
- Subject Areas:
-
Biology Computer Science Life Science Science and Technology -
NGSS Performance Expectations:
MS-LS1-3 MS-LS1-8
Summary
Students learn about how ultrasonic sensors work, reinforcing the connection between this sensor and how humans, bats and dolphins estimate distance. They learn the echolocation process—sound waves transmitted, bounced back and received, with the time difference used to calculate the distance of objects. Two mini-activities, which use LEGO® MINDSTORMS® EV3 robots and ultrasonic sensors, give students a chance to experiment with ultrasonic sensors in preparation for the associated activity. A PowerPoint® presentation explains stimulus-to-response pathways, sensor fundamentals, and details about the LEGO ultrasonic sensor. Pre/post quizzes are provided. This lesson and its associated activity enable students to gain a deeper understanding of how robots can take sensor input and use it to make decisions via programming.Engineering Connection
Biological engineers and neuroscientists perceive the human body as a functioning, controlled system, similar to a robot. Research findings are showing that mathematical principles similar to those used in robotics are extremely useful or even necessary for a complete understanding of the human body. Through this lesson, students strengthen their understanding of the functioning of each of the human (and bat) senses by relating them to the different sensors used in robots. Ultrasonic sensors are used in medicine to detect shapes and sizes of otherwise unseen internal body parts. For instance, doctors can determine gender of a fetus in the womb of its mother. Ultrasonic sensors are also used to determine wind speed and direction. Sonar and radar technologies are based on the same concepts.
Learning Objectives
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Describe how ultrasonic sensors work.
- Compare the ultrasonic sensor to how humans and bats estimate distance.
- Program the LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 robot with the ultrasonic sensor.
- Provide a basic explanation of how sensors are integrated into robots via careful programming.
Educational Standards
Each TeachEngineering lesson or activity is correlated to one or more K-12 science,
technology, engineering or math (STEM) educational standards.
All 100,000+ K-12 STEM standards covered in TeachEngineering are collected, maintained and packaged by the Achievement Standards Network (ASN),
a project of D2L (www.achievementstandards.org).
In the ASN, standards are hierarchically structured: first by source; e.g., by state; within source by type; e.g., science or mathematics;
within type by subtype, then by grade, etc.
Each TeachEngineering lesson or activity is correlated to one or more K-12 science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) educational standards.
All 100,000+ K-12 STEM standards covered in TeachEngineering are collected, maintained and packaged by the Achievement Standards Network (ASN), a project of D2L (www.achievementstandards.org).
In the ASN, standards are hierarchically structured: first by source; e.g., by state; within source by type; e.g., science or mathematics; within type by subtype, then by grade, etc.
NGSS: Next Generation Science Standards - Science
| NGSS Performance Expectation | ||
|---|---|---|
|
MS-LS1-3. Use argument supported by evidence for how the body is a system of interacting subsystems composed of groups of cells. (Grades 6 - 8) Do you agree with this alignment? |
||
| Click to view other curriculum aligned to this Performance Expectation | ||
| This lesson focuses on the following Three Dimensional Learning aspects of NGSS: | ||
| Science & Engineering Practices | Disciplinary Core Ideas | Crosscutting Concepts |
| Use an oral and written argument supported by evidence to support or refute an explanation or a model for a phenomenon. Alignment agreement: | In multicellular organisms, the body is a system of multiple interacting subsystems. These subsystems are groups of cells that work together to form tissues and organs that are specialized for particular body functions. Alignment agreement: | Systems may interact with other systems; they may have sub-systems and be a part of larger complex systems. Alignment agreement: Scientists and engineers are guided by habits of mind such as intellectual honesty, tolerance of ambiguity, skepticism, and openness to new ideas.Alignment agreement: |
| NGSS Performance Expectation | ||
|---|---|---|
|
MS-LS1-8. Gather and synthesize information that sensory receptors respond to stimuli by sending messages to the brain for immediate behavior or storage as memories. (Grades 6 - 8) Do you agree with this alignment? |
||
| Click to view other curriculum aligned to this Performance Expectation | ||
| This lesson focuses on the following Three Dimensional Learning aspects of NGSS: | ||
| Science & Engineering Practices | Disciplinary Core Ideas | Crosscutting Concepts |
| Gather, read, and synthesize information from multiple appropriate sources and assess the credibility, accuracy, and possible bias of each publication and methods used, and describe how they are supported or not supported by evidence. Alignment agreement: | Each sense receptor responds to different inputs (electromagnetic, mechanical, chemical), transmitting them as signals that travel along nerve cells to the brain. The signals are then processed in the brain, resulting in immediate behaviors or memories. Alignment agreement: | Cause and effect relationships may be used to predict phenomena in natural systems. Alignment agreement: |
Common Core State Standards - Math
-
Solve problems involving measurement and conversion of measurements from a larger unit to a smaller unit.
(Grade
4)
More Details
Do you agree with this alignment?
-
Convert among different-sized standard measurement units within a given measurement system (e.g., convert 5 cm to 0.05 m), and use these conversions in solving multi-step, real world problems.
(Grade
5)
More Details
Do you agree with this alignment?
International Technology and Engineering Educators Association - Technology
-
Explain how various relationships can exist between technology and engineering and other content areas.
(Grades
3 -
5)
More Details
Do you agree with this alignment?
-
Explain how knowledge gained from other content areas affects the development of technological products and systems.
(Grades
6 -
8)
More Details
Do you agree with this alignment?
State Standards
Missouri - Science
-
Describe how new technologies have helped scientists make better observations and measurements for investigations (e.g., telescopes, magnifiers, balances, microscopes, computers, stethoscopes, thermometers)
(Grade
4)
More Details
Do you agree with this alignment?
-
Describe how new technologies have helped scientists make better observations and measurements for investigations (e.g., telescopes, electronic balances, electronic microscopes, x-ray technology, computers, ultrasounds, computer probes such as thermometers)
(Grade
5)
More Details
Do you agree with this alignment?
-
Explain the interactions between the nervous and muscular systems when an organism responds to a stimulus
(Grade
8)
More Details
Do you agree with this alignment?
Worksheets and Attachments
Visit [www.teachengineering.org/lessons/view/umo_sensorswork_lesson06] to print or download.Pre-Req Knowledge
- An understanding of the primary five senses of the human body: sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch.
- Completion of the previous units in the series: Humans Are Like Robots (unit 1), Our Bodies Have Computers and Sensors (unit 2), What Is a Computer Program? (unit 3).
- Completion of the previous lessons and activities in this unit, especially the What Is a Sensor? lesson.
Introduction/Motivation
(Be ready to show students the 19-slide How Does an Ultrasonic Sensor Work? Presentation, a Microsoft® PowerPoint® file, to teach the lesson. In advance, make copies of the Ultrasonic Sensor Pre-Quiz and Ultrasonic Sensor Post-Quiz, one each per student, provided as attachments and slides. For the mini-activities, student pairs use LEGO robot components to experiment with the sensors.)
Today we are investigating another sensor—the ultrasonic sensor. Have you heard of an ultrasonic sensor? This sensor is able to estimate objects in front of it using reflected sound. Does this process sound similar to any other process you know of? (Listen to student ideas. They may mention bats, echolocation, radar or sonar). This process is similar to how bats locate objects in their paths.
Our lesson includes two mini-activities to help us get familiar with the LEGO EV3 ultrasonic sensor. Then in the next class, we will conduct a more-involved activity that gives you the opportunity to program your LEGO robots to move about freely without bumping into LEGO people. To do that, you'll use a LEGO EV3 ultrasonic sensor to detect whether anything is in the way.
(Continue by showing the presentation and delivering the content in the Lesson Background section.)
Lesson Background and Concepts for Teachers
Present the lesson using the content provided in the slide presentation, as described below. The quizzes are embedded in the presentation if you wish to go through them as a class. During the lesson, students engage in two mini-activities (slides 11-12) that require the following items for each student pair:
- LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 robot, such as EV3 Core Set (5003400) at https://education.lego.com/en-us/shop/all?ProductLines=MINDSTORMS%C2%AE+Education
- LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3 Software 1.2.1, free online, you have to register a LEGO account first; at https://www.lego.com/en-us/mindstorms/downloads/download-software
- computer, loaded with EV3 1.2.1 software
- paper and pencil, for writing mini-activity observations and programming steps
Note: This activity can also be conducted with the older (and no longer sold) LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT set instead of EV3; see below for those supplies:
- LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Base Set
- computer loaded with the NXT 2.1 software
How Does the Ultrasonic Sensor Work? Presentation Outline (Slides 1-19)
- Administer the pre-quiz by handing out paper copies; the quiz is also on slide 2. The answers are provided for the teacher on slide 3 for discussion after students have completed the quiz.
- (slide 4) Explain the structure of the LEGO EV3 ultrasonic sensor. (Hold up an ultrasonic sensor to show students.) It has two main parts. A transmitter sends out a signal (an ultrasonic wave) that humans cannot hear. And a receiver receives the signal after it has reflected off nearby objects. The sensor times how long it takes for its signals to come back and relays that information to the LEGO brick/computer, which calculates how far away objects are. Ask the students: Does this process sound familiar? Do you know of any animal that are able to sense in a similar way? (Answer: Bats, dolphins, porpoises and some whales use echolocation, sometimes called biosonar.)
- (slides 5-7) How does a bat locate its prey in the dark? Explain how bats use echolocation to measure distance and the similar process with a robotic sensor. The time difference between sending and receiving is used to estimate distance.
- (slide 8) Provide an overview of robotic sensors to keep emphasizing the big picture.
Measuring distance using the echolocation concept. - (slide 9) Go into the details of the same concepts, but with some specifics on measuring distance. The ultrasonic sensor can measure distances in centimeters and inches. It can measure from 0 to 2.5 meters, with a precision of 3 cm. It provides good readings in sensing large-sized objects with hard surfaces, but has more difficulties reading reflections from soft, curved, thin or small objects.
- (slide 10) The ultrasonic sensor sends out sound from one side (one of the "eyes") and receives it back using the sensor on the other side. Together, the ultrasonic sensor's transmitter and receiver look like a pair of eyes, but it is not a sight sensor. Instead, those "eyes" are really more like a speaker and a microphone (a sound sensor).
- For the mini-activities, divide the class into pairs and give each pair a LEGO EV3 ultrasonic sensor, motor, intelligent brick and two cables. Direct student pairs to follow the instructions on slides 11-12 to experiment with the EV3 ultrasonic sensor.
- (slide 11) In the first activity, they spend ~10 minutes using the ultrasonic sensor connected to the brick to study how the sensor works and what it does. Make sure they do the "Try Me" option and write down their observations from their experimentation.
- (slide 12) In the second activity, they add the motor to the setup and spend ~15 minutes programming the LEGO robot so that it plays one music when an object is close to it (less than 10 inches), and keeps the motor turning. If the object is farther than 10 inches, have the program stop. On a separate sheet of paper, have students provide step-by-step explanations describing how the program works. The programming solution is provided for the teacher on slides 13-16.
- Administer the post-quiz by handing out paper copies; the quiz is also on slide 17. The answers are provided on slide 18. This concludes the lesson. Slide 19 contains vocabulary terms and definitions. Next, conduct the associated activity Ultrasonic Sensor Robot Design Project: Don't Bump into Me!
Associated Activities
- Ultrasonic Sensor Robot Design Project: Don't Bump into Me! - Student groups program LEGO robots outfitted with ultrasonic sensors to meet a design challenge: Enable the robot to roam around freely without bumping into the toy people obstacles. They practice and learn programming skills and logic design in parallel, seeing how robots take input from ultrasonic sensors and use it to make decisions to move, similar to echolocation. They iterate their designs to success.
Lesson Closure
Engineers were inspired by how bats estimate distance to objects in their surroundings to design the ultrasonic sensor. Robots use sensors to make decisions about movement and actions in much the same manner as humans do to control their muscles and bodily functions.
Vocabulary/Definitions
auditory: Related to hearing.
echolocation: Biological sonar used by animals, such as bats and dolphins, in which the animal sends out a call and uses the echo to locate and identify surrounding objects.
peripheral: Surrounding.
sensor: A device that converts one type of signal to another; for instance, the speedometer in a car collects physical data and calculates and displays the speed the car is moving.
transducer: Another term for a sensor.
ultrasonic: A sound that we cannot hear, but bats and dogs can hear.
Assessment
Pre-Lesson Assessment
Pre-Quiz: Administer the three-question Ultrasonic Sensor Pre-Quiz by handing out paper copies (also on slide 2). Students' answers reveal their base knowledge of ultrasonic sensors, as well as how humans and bats estimate distances. Have students answer as best as they can. Answers are provided in the Ultrasonic Sensor Pre-Quiz Answer Key (and on slide 3).
Post-Introduction Assessment
Hands-On Learning: Observe all students as they engage in the mini-activities described on slides 11-12. Make sure all pairs are following the slide instructions to experiment with the ultrasonic sensor. Question individual students to verify that they understand how the ultrasonic sensor works. Compare groups' programming answers to the teacher solution provided on slides 13-16. Review their written observations and programming answers to gauge their comprehension of the topic and readiness for the associated activity.
Lesson Summary Assessment
Conversion Practice: Have students practice unit conversions as they convert the following example ultrasonic sensor distance readings from centimeters to inches and vice versa:
- 5 cm = _____ inches (1 cm = ~0.394 inches --> 5 cm x 0.39 = 1.97 inches)
- 3 cm = _____ inches (1.18 inches)
- 2 inches = _____ cm (1 inch = 2.54 cm --> 2 in. x 2.54 = 5.08 cm)
- 4 inches = _____ cm (10.16 cm)
Post-Quiz: Administer the Ultrasonic Sensor Post-Quiz by handing out paper copies (also on slide 17). Review students' answers to assess their understanding, as well as how much they learned during the course of the lesson. Quiz answers are provided on the Ultrasonic Sensor Post-Quiz Answer Key (and on slide 18).
Additional Multimedia Support
EV3 robots and sensors: https://www.lego.com/en-us/themes/mindstorms/about
What is a transducer? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transducer
What is a sensor? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensors
List of sensors http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sensors
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Copyright
© 2013 by Regents of the University of Colorado; original © 2013 Curators of the University of MissouriContributors
Nishant Sinha, Pranit Samarth, Satish S. NairSupporting Program
GK-12 Program, Computational Neurobiology Center, College of Engineering, University of MissouriAcknowledgements
This curriculum was developed under National Science Foundation GK-12 grant no. DGE 0440524. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the National Science Foundation, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.
Last modified: June 14, 2021
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