Project WOBBLE-BOT: Bringing Digital Dogs to Life with LEGO Spike Prime

Materials Needed:

• Access to the game Wobbledogs (PC/Mac/Switch)
• LEGO Education Spike Prime Set (with all sensors and motors)
• A device with the LEGO Education Spike Prime App installed (tablet or computer)
• A journal or digital document for a "Robotics Lab Notebook"
• A camera/phone for documenting the process (optional, but encouraged)

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this project, you will be able to:

• Analyze the form and function of a digital creature (a Wobbledog) and translate its key characteristics into a physical design.
• Design and build a functional robot using the LEGO Spike Prime kit that mimics at least one physical trait or behavior of your chosen Wobbledog.
• Develop and test a program using block-based or Python coding to control your robot's movements and sensor interactions.
• Document your design process, including challenges and solutions, in a lab notebook.
• Explain the connections between the simulated genetics in Wobbledogs and the cause-and-effect logic of your robot's program.

Curriculum Connections:

• Science (Biology & Genetics): Exploring concepts of heredity, mutation, and adaptation by observing how Wobbledogs evolve and applying those ideas to your robot's design "mutations."
• Technology & Engineering (Robotics): Applying the engineering design process (Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Test, Improve) to solve a creative challenge.
• Computer Science (Programming): Using sensors, motors, and control logic to create autonomous behaviors.

Lesson Activities & Steps

Part 1: Observation & Research (Approx. 45-60 minutes)

1. Play with a Purpose: Launch Wobbledogs! Your mission is not just to play, but to be a field researcher. Choose one of your favorite Wobbledogs (or breed a new one!) to be your subject.
2. Field Notes: In your Robotics Lab Notebook, create a profile for your chosen Wobbledog. Document the following:
   • Physical Form: How many legs? Long or short body? Big or small head? Any unusual features like wings or multiple tails? Sketch it out.
   • Movement: How does it walk, run, or wiggle? Is it clumsy or graceful? Does it roll? Does it jump? Try to describe the motion in detail.
   • Behavior: What does it do when it's hungry, happy, or sleepy? How does it interact with objects or other dogs? Pick one or two key behaviors you find interesting.
3. The "Golden Trait": From your notes, decide on the most important characteristic you want to recreate. Is it the dog's wobbly walk? Its ability to eat and then "poop" out an object? The way its head wobbles? This will be the focus of your robot build.

Part 2: Design & Prototyping (Approx. 90-120 minutes)

1. Brainstorm & Sketch: Now, think about the LEGO Spike Prime parts. How can you use motors to create a wobbly walk? Which sensor could you use to detect "food"? In your notebook, sketch at least two different ideas for your Wobble-Bot. Don't worry about perfection; just get your ideas on paper.
2. Select a Plan: Choose the sketch that seems most promising and achievable. What parts will you need? Where will you place the hub, motors, and sensors?
3. Build the First Prototype: Start building! This is your first draft. It's okay if it doesn't work perfectly. The goal is to create a physical model that you can test and improve. Remember to take photos of your progress.

Part 3: Programming & Testing (Approx. 90-120 minutes)

1. Code the Core Behavior: Open the Spike Prime app. Using the block-based coding (or Python, if you're comfortable), write a simple program to test your robot's core function. If you're building a walker, make the motors turn. If you're building an eater, program the color sensor.
2. Test, Fail, and Debug: Run your program. Does it work? Probably not perfectly on the first try! This is the most important part of engineering.
   • Does the robot fall over? Maybe you need to adjust the weight distribution or change the leg design.
   • Do the motors move too fast or too slow? Adjust the speed and timing in your code.
   • Is the sensor not working as expected? Check your connections and the logic in your program.
3. Iterate and Improve: Based on your tests, make changes to your physical build and your code. This cycle of testing and improving is key. Keep notes in your lab notebook about what changes you made and why. For example: "Attempt #3: The original legs were too rigid. I added an extra joint to create a more 'wobbly' motion. This worked much better."

Part 4: Refinement & Showcase (Approx. 60 minutes)

1. Add Personality: Now that the core function works, add some flair! Can you program a "happy" sound when it successfully completes a task? Can you add decorative LEGO pieces to make it look more like your original Wobbledog?
2. Prepare Your Showcase: Create a short presentation or video. You will need to:
   • Introduce your original Wobbledog inspiration (show a screenshot if possible).
   • Demonstrate your Wobble-Bot in action.
   • Explain your design and programming choices. Why did you use a distance sensor? How does your code create the wobbly motion?
   • Discuss the biggest challenge you faced and how you solved it.
3. Present Your Creation: Share your project with a family member or friend. Explain your process and be proud of what you've built!

Project Extension & Challenge Ideas

• Simulated Mutation: Create a "mutation" in your code. Make a copy of your program and change a key variable (like motor speed or the wait time between movements). Give your robot a new "genetic code" and document how its behavior changes. Does it become more or less effective?
• Environmental Interaction: Build a small environment for your Wobble-Bot. Can you program it to navigate around an obstacle (using the ultrasonic distance sensor) or follow a line to find "food" (using the color sensor)?
• The Gut Flora Challenge: In Wobbledogs, gut flora affects mutations. Can you use the color sensor to simulate this? Program your robot to behave differently based on the color of the "food" it detects (e.g., a red brick makes it go faster, a blue brick makes it spin).

Assessment & Reflection

Use this rubric to evaluate your project. The goal isn't a perfect score, but to reflect on your process and learning.