Make a Security Gadget

Invent a Security Gadget that will protect your belongings by warning you!

Connect

Over time, people have come up with many different ways to help protect their personal belongings from theft. These inventions include simple alarm systems and even traps!

Look at the photos and think about:

• What do you see?
• Can you see any new design opportunities?
• What problems can you see?
• How could you make use of the LEGO bricks, the EV3 Programmable Brick, motors, and sensors?

Things You’ll Need

• LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education EV3 Core Set

Additional materials to add to your Security Gadget:

• String
• Arts and crafts materials such as:

  • Cardboard
  • Construction paper
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Plastic or paper cups
  • Recycled materials
  • Rubber bands
  • Wire

Prior Knowledge

This activity uses sensor inputs. You may want to try the Use or Object Detection activity before this one. Or, you can start out with this activity and tinker with coding sensor inputs on your own.

Contemplate

Follow the steps of the Maker Design Process for this lesson:

• Define the Problem
• Brainstorming
• Define the Design Criteria
• Go Make
• Review and Revise Your Solution
• Communicate Your Solution

Defining the Problem

1. What problems did you imagine?
2. Pick one problem and explain it to a partner.

Brainstorm

Now that you have defined a problem, start to generate ideas for solving it.

Define the Design Criteria

1. You should have generated a number of ideas. Now select the best one to make.
2. Write out two or three specific design criteria your design must meet.

Go Make

It is time to start making!

• Use the components from the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education EV3 Core Set and additional materials to make your chosen solution.
• Test and analyze your design as you go and record any improvements that you make.

Review and Revise Your Solution

• Have you managed to solve the problem that you defined?
• Look back at your design criteria. How well does your solution work?
• How can you improve your design?

Communicate Your Solution

Now that you have finished you can:

• Make a sketch or take a photo or video of your model.
• Label the three most important parts and explain how they work.
• Share your work with others.

Continue

Phone Protector - Sample Solution

This example program combined with the small model will sound an alarm if someone picks it up. The program activates an alarm when an object is lifted from the Touch Sensor.

Programming

1. Drag a ||sensors:pause until touch|| block and place it inside the ||loops:forever|| loop.
2. Drag a ||music:play sound effect|| block and place it below the ||sensors:pause until|| block.
3. Change the sound effect to mechanical horn1.

forever(function () {
    sensors.touch1.pauseUntil(ButtonEvent.Pressed)
    music.playSoundEffect(sounds.mechanicalHorn1)
})

Click Download and follow the instructions to get your code onto your EV3 Brick. Press the center button on the EV3 Brick to run the program.

Object Detection - Sample Solution

This example program combined with the small model will sound an alarm if someone (or something) crosses its path! The program activates an alarm when an object moves in front of the Ultrasonic Sensor.

Programming

1. Drag a ||sensors:pause until ultrasonic|| block and place it inside the ||loops:forever|| loop.
2. Drag a ||music:play sound effect|| block and place it below the ||sensors:pause until|| block.
3. Change the sound effect to mechanical horn1.

forever(function () {
    sensors.ultrasonic4.pauseUntil(UltrasonicSensorEvent.ObjectDetected)
    music.playSoundEffect(sounds.mechanicalHorn1)
})

Click Download and follow the instructions to get your code onto your EV3 Brick. Press the center button on the EV3 Brick to run the program.