POE Unit 3 • Lesson 3.8

Sensor Thresholds and Decision Logic

Plan or code if/then decisions using sensor values, limits, and mission states.

Lesson Snapshot

Student Objective

I can use thresholds and conditional logic to make a control-system decision.

Main Activity

Plan or code if/then decisions using sensor values, limits, and mission states.

Deliverable

Sensor decision table

Tools / Materials

Notebook, sensor examples, rover or VEX sensors, coding device

1ProblemUnderstand the challenge and why it matters.

Sensor data only becomes useful when the program knows what to do with it. A poorly chosen threshold can cause false triggers, missed targets, or unsafe behavior.

2ConceptLearn the engineering idea or skill.

Conditional logic uses statements such as if, else if, and else. A threshold is a value that separates one system behavior from another.

3ApplyUse the skill in a guided task.

Create a decision table for a rover navigation marker, obstacle distance, color pad, button press, or VEX mechanism position.

4DocumentRecord your evidence and decisions.

Record the sensor, threshold value, condition, output action, and expected result for each decision.

5ReviewCheck quality and identify your next step.

Your decision table should be specific enough to turn into code or a flowchart.

Lesson Resources

Use these files and shared website resources when they support today’s work.

Engineering Graph Paper

Use for flowcharts, system diagrams, calculations, mission layouts, and design sketches.

Open Resource

Measurement Data Sheet

Use for rover trials, actuator tests, timing data, accuracy measurements, and observations.

Open Resource

Engineering Resource Library

Templates, reference sheets, sketch paper, and course support files.

Open Resource