RET Teaching Module 18: Glow in the Dark Laser Control System

Overview

Students, in groups of three, are building and operating a system that controls the reflection of a stationary laser beam which is redirected onto a glow in the dark projection screen using mirrors mounted on two servo motors. The servo motors, being used to control horizontal and vertical movement of the laser beam, are controlled by student programs uploaded to an Arduino microcontroller. Students plan the pattern they want to make and use trigonometric formulas to determine values to be included in a program controlling the servos.

After completing this module, student should be able to:

• Students will anticipate, design, create, and coordinate safe control of the reflections of a laser beam.
• Students need to apply trigonometric functions to calculate values to be included in programing that result in rotation of servos attached to mirrors which, in turn, control the movement of a reflected laser beam.
• Students need to write a program using C+ to precisely control servo movement.

>> Want to learn more? Review all of the materials by downloading the zip file for this module

Included in this Module:

• Teacher Guide and Resource Manual
• Student Activity Guide (Glow in the Dark LAser Control)
• Student Handouts
• Additional Teacher Resources

Samples of the materials

• Teacher Guide and Resource Manual
• Example Lesson Day 1 Student Activity Guide

>> Download the zip file with all content for this module