Work toward the lesson goal: Workcell Handshaking & Verified Movement. 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
Create a direct communication link between two EXP Brains.
Send and receive status messages between connected workcells.
Use sensor information to verify that a transfer condition is safe.
Complete a multi-workcell movement challenge using communication and verification.
Equipment & Systems
What you will use
Two VEX CTE Workcells
EXP Brain Smart Cable link
AI Vision Sensor
Non-VEX sensors as assigned
Disks and Cubes
Student Workflow
What You Will Do
Physically connect the two workcells and establish the communication link.
Test a simple send / receive exchange between the EXP Brains.
Define the messages needed for a safe product handoff.
Integrate AI Vision or other sensors to verify product or mechanism status.
Complete the verified movement challenge and compare its reliability with timing-based coordination.
Programming Focus
How coding supports the lesson
Use MessageLink to establish Manager / Worker roles, send status strings, wait for expected messages, and combine communication with sensor checks before permitting movement.
What You Will Submit
What You Submit
Communication-state diagram
Final commented programs for both workcells
Verified movement demonstration
Message and sensor test evidence
Comparison of handshaking vs. timing-based coordination
