LockwoodSTEMStudent Engineering Hub
ADM Project 2.1.7

Automated Sorting Challenge

Integrate sensing, conveyors, robotic movement, and routing into a repeatable sorting system that transfers multiple product types across connected workcells.

Back to Unit 2Student WorkflowWhat You Submit

Your lesson guide

Objective

Work toward the lesson goal: Automated Sorting Challenge. Use the directions and success criteria in the activity below.

Materials

For the online work: a browser and your engineering notebook. Follow the activity’s materials list for any physical build, and get teacher approval before using equipment.

Plan your time

Suggested work block: 45–60 minutes. Physical builds and projects may span several classes; follow your teacher’s schedule.

Learning Targets

By the end of this lesson

  • Integrate multiple workcell subsystems into one automated process.
  • Route multiple object types to defined destinations.
  • Coordinate work between two student teams and two workcells.
  • Test, debug, and document system reliability.
Equipment & Systems

What you will use

  • Two VEX CTE Workcells
  • Disks and Cubes
  • Conveyors and Diverters
  • 6-Axis Arms
  • Optical / Object Sensors
Student Workflow

What You Will Do

  1. Review the production requirements and destination rules.
  2. Plan how each workcell will sense, move, sort, and transfer objects.
  3. Program and test each workcell independently before connecting the process.
  4. Run the complete sorting sequence repeatedly and record failures or delays.
  5. Revise the system until it meets the required routing and reliability targets.
Programming Focus

How coding supports the lesson

Combine sensor-based conditionals, loops, conveyor control, robotic-arm movement, and pneumatic actions. Timing may still be used for cross-workcell coordination here; Project 2.2.4 will replace that weakness with handshaking.

What You Will Submit

What You Submit

  • System plan and team responsibilities
  • Final commented programs for both workcells
  • Successful sorting demonstration
  • Testing / debugging log
  • Short reflection on the largest reliability limitation
Back to Unit 2

Build your lesson report

Checkpoint: is your evidence ready?
  • Check calculations, units, labels, and measurements against the activity requirements.
  • Record what actually happened, including unexpected results.
  • Explain what you changed and why; attach required drawings, photos, CAD, or code in your classroom assignment.

System plan and team responsibilities Final commented programs for both workcells Successful sorting demonstration

A PDF download is not a submission. Review it, then upload it and any required attachments through your classroom assignment system.