STEM Coding Max


Model 6: Automatic door

Out of the way!


Grade
6-8
Time required
2 double hours
Difficulty level
Model: medium, Programming: medium
Model type
Table model for industrial automatic doors
Download didactic material

MODEL DESCRIPTION / TASK

The pupils (SuS) plan and realize the model of a door that opens and closes automatically. 

Depending on the need for differentiation, the automatic system can be triggered by various sensors: 

  • Manual button (basic circuit), 
  • magnetic access card (differentiation 1) or
  • motion detection (differentiation 2). 

The closing time can be set variably via the programming. 

EVERYDAY RELEVANCE

The function of an automatically triggered mechanical movement initiated by a sensor is becoming increasingly present in the everyday lives of children (car door, tailgate on vehicles, elevator door, automatic tap, etc.). Triggering an automated function (e.g. through switches, changes in brightness, movement or gesture control) has always been highly motivating, as has the combination of mechanical movements with modern controls. Pre-professional orientation also plays an important role with regard to using, understanding, developing and optimizing a corresponding system. 

Key questions

  • Where are automatic doors installed in everyday life? (Communication)
  • What triggering options are there for operating the door? (Communication)
  • How can a rotary movement be converted into a linear movement? (Creativity)
  • Which time loops are useful for operation? (critical thinking, collaboration)

Subject reference
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Computer sience
Basics of programming various sensors, time loops
Technology
Gear theory, manufacturing and optimizing an object
Physics
Mechanical and kinematic aspects of movements

Lesson progression

 

Introduction phase

Classroom discussion (without app)

  • Query scenarios in which an automatically triggered door facilitates mechanical processes in life.
  • Collect various possible systems from the pupils' everyday lives.
  • Presentation of the task.
  • Discuss meaningful time intervals (delays) and define the time loops.
  • Discussion about the realization of possible kinematic solutions (rotation/translation) and determination of the kinematic realizations of the drive.

Assistance if necessary

  • Show sensors, actuators and components from the construction kit, use presentation media if necessary.

Planning phase

Lesson discussion

  • The teacher specifies the procedure using the work steps in the app.

Partner or individual work (with app)

  • Pupils familiarize themselves with the app and download the corresponding task.
  • Pupils complete the first task in the app.
  • In the app, they create requirement lists for mechanical parts and for sensors that are necessary for the automatic opening and closing of the door.

Lesson discussion (without app)

  • Possible sensors to be used (differentiation) are discussed. The minimum requirements of the task are defined: 1 sensor to open the door.
  • The procedure for further differentiation is discussed.

Optional partner or group work (without app)

  • The pupils sketch a possible system
  • Pupils discuss the results and agree on a design.
Contruction phase

Partner or individual work

  • Pupils use the app to build the automatic door. The app guides them through the program in small steps.
Programming phase

Partner or group work

  • Pupils write the program for the door control (button as sensor). The app guides them through the program in small steps.
  • Help is provided in the app.
  • The program is transferred to the RX controller.
Experimentation and test phase

Partner or group work

  • The door control unit is put into operation
  • Possible malfunctions in the function sequence must be found and rectified. Help is offered in the app.
  • Any optimizations to the hardware and programming of the time loops are carried out.
Final phase

Optional: Presentation of an allocation of the differentiations

The possibility of differentiation for fast pupils is offered in the app:

  • Differentiation 1: Additional control using a magnetic switch
  • Differentiation 2: Additional control through gesture control

The teacher addresses eligible pupils. The further procedure is implemented by the app.

Discussion in plenary

  • Debriefing of the project in class.
  • If necessary, the results of the differentiation are discussed. The use of the various other sensor controls is demonstrated.
  • Strengths and weaknesses of the solutions are identified and discussed.
  • Outlook on optimization possibilities / needs in everyday solutions (transfer of the topic to everyday life) are identified and discussed (e.g. light barrier, warning lamp ...).

 

Information and notes

 

Methodical and didactic tips
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Differentiation options

The model (basic task button on the inside) is particularly suitable for differentiation. Depending on the time available, the system can be supplemented in further stages with little effort by a magnetically triggered switch on the front of the door (reed contact) and/or by a motion sensor (RGB gesture sensor) on the inside of the door. Programming by means of additional loops produces a great effect through further triggering options for opening the door. 

 

Motivational Aspects

There is a great desire to have a system that can be controlled in as many different ways as possible by using a wide variety of sensors. The familiarity with various everyday solutions also means that there is likely to be interest in adding further useful components to the system (e.g. visual status display of the system, warning function before the door closes, etc.).

Additional material

  • Optional: drawing media (paper, whiteboard or projection screen)

Building instructions

Circuit diagram

Functions of the model and their technical solutions

 

Function of the system

 

Technical solution

 

Triggering the door opening (seen from the inside)
​

 

Pressing a button

 

End position for open door

 

 

Pulse counter

 

Limit switch for closed door

 

Triggering the limit switch (button)
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Opening the door

 

Opening the door using the motor and worm gearbox

 

 

Closing the door

 

Closing the door using a motor and worm gearbox
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Differentiation 1: Triggering the door opening (seen from the outside)

 

 

Triggering a reed contact using a magnet

 

Differentiation 2: automatic triggering of the door opening (seen from the inside)

 

 

Triggering the RGB gesture sensor

Material list
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Sensors

 

 

Function

 

1 button

 

 

Triggering the door opening process

 

1 button

 

Switching off the motor when the door is closed

 

 

1 button

 

Setting the end position of the open door (pulse counter)

 

 

Differentiation 1: 1 reed contact

 

 

Triggering the door opening process

 

Differentiation 2: 1 RGB gesture sensor

 

 

Triggering the door opening process

 

 

 

Actuators

 

 

Function

 

1 motor incl. gearbox

 

 

Opening/closing the door

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