Plan control logic
Create flowcharts, mission algorithms, and decision tables that show how an automated system should behave.
POE Unit 3
Autonomous Rover Systems: Controls, Sensors & Fluid Power
Students explore how automated aerospace systems use logic, sensors, feedback, actuators, and fluid power to complete missions safely and reliably. VEX rover platforms and VEX ground-support systems become the platform for programming, testing, and refining open-loop and closed-loop rover behavior.
Unit Purpose
What this unit prepares you to do
Unit 3 moves from control-system logic to physical mission systems. You will plan algorithms, test rover behavior, explore feedback and sensors, use VEX or fluid power for ground support, and defend an integrated autonomous mission with evidence.
Use feedback
Compare open-loop and closed-loop control by testing rover missions, sensors, thresholds, and actuator responses.
Integrate systems
Combine a VEX rover platform mission with a VEX, pneumatic, hydraulic, or physical ground-support system.
Unit Project
Rover Mission + VEX Ground Support System
Design, program, test, and demonstrate an autonomous rover mission supported by a VEX, fluid-power, or physical ground-support system. Your final design must use control logic, testing evidence, and mission performance data to justify decisions.
Possible missions
Terrain survey route, sample-site detection, payload delivery simulation, obstacle navigation, search-and-survey path, or approved custom aerospace mission task.
Support systems
VEX checkpoint gate, payload station, rotating beacon, inspection platform, signal tower, hydraulic/pneumatic door, or mission checkpoint structure.
Required evidence
Problem statement, flowchart, system architecture diagram, code screenshots, build photos, test data, iteration notes, and final design review.
Project Brief
Rover Mission + VEX Ground Support System
Use this brief to guide the rover mission, control logic, VEX or fluid-power support system, testing, and final mission review.
Student Project Brief
This PDF explains the challenge statement, scenario, design requirements, constraints, engineering evidence, checkpoints, and success criteria for this unit project.
Open Project BriefProject Support
Common templates
Use these LockwoodSTEM templates to plan, document, test, analyze, and present engineering work.
Notebook Entry
Document sketches, calculations, evidence, and next steps.
Open PDFDesign Brief
Define the problem, criteria, constraints, and deliverables.
Open PDFTest Plan
Plan variables, setup, procedure, and success criteria.
Open PDFTest Data Table
Collect repeated trials and calculate summary statistics.
Download XLSXProject Reflection
Explain what worked, what changed, and what should improve next.
Open PDFFinal Design Review Slides
Use the slide template to present the final engineering argument.
Download PPTXDaily Lesson Map
Unit 3 lesson sequence
Each lesson builds toward a safe, repeatable autonomous mission that combines rovers, control logic, feedback, and ground-support systems.
| Lesson | Title | Student Objective | Deliverable | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | Unit Launch: Autonomous Aerospace Systems | I can explain how aerospace control systems use logic, feedback, sensors, and actuators to complete mission tasks. | Aerospace control system map | Open Lesson |
| 3.2 | Control Systems and Mission Logic | I can describe the difference between open-loop and closed-loop control in an aerospace mission. | Open-loop vs closed-loop comparison chart | Open Lesson |
| 3.3 | Flowcharts and Algorithms | I can create a flowchart that shows the logic of an automated aerospace mission. | Mission flowchart draft | Open Lesson |
| 3.4 | Inputs, Outputs, and Sensors | I can identify input devices, output devices, and sensors used in control systems. | Input-output-sensor table | Open Lesson |
| 3.5 | Open-Loop Rover Control | I can program or plan an open-loop rover mission using sequenced commands. | Open-loop rover mission plan or code evidence | Open Lesson |
| 3.6 | Rover Testing and Debugging | I can test a rover mission safely and identify changes needed to improve reliability. | Rover test log and revision notes | Open Lesson |
| 3.7 | Closed-Loop Control and Feedback | I can explain how feedback can improve an autonomous aerospace system. | Feedback loop diagram | Open Lesson |
| 3.8 | Sensor Thresholds and Decision Logic | I can use thresholds and conditional logic to make a control-system decision. | Sensor decision table | Open Lesson |
| 3.9 | VEX Ground Support Systems | I can describe how VEX components can create an automated aerospace ground-support system. | VEX ground-support concept sketch | Open Lesson |
| 3.10 | Motors, Servos, and Actuators | I can explain how actuators convert control signals into motion. | Actuator selection notes | Open Lesson |
| 3.11 | Fluid Power in Aerospace Systems | I can identify aerospace uses of hydraulic and pneumatic power. | Aerospace fluid-power application chart | Open Lesson |
| 3.12 | Pressure, Force, and Pascal’s Law | I can use pressure and area relationships to explain force multiplication in fluid systems. | Fluid power calculation set | Open Lesson |
| 3.13 | Fluid Power Design Lab | I can design and test a simple hydraulic or pneumatic device for an aerospace support task. | Fluid power lab notes and prototype evidence | Open Lesson |
| 3.14 | Design Brief: Rover Mission + VEX Ground Support System | I can define the Unit 3 design problem, criteria, constraints, and required evidence. | Problem statement and criteria/constraints list | Open Lesson |
| 3.15 | Mission Planning and System Architecture | I can plan an integrated rover and ground-support system before building or coding. | System architecture diagram and mission flowchart | Open Lesson |
| 3.16 | Build and Program Workday | I can build, program, and document an integrated autonomous mission system safely. | Build/code progress evidence | Open Lesson |
| 3.17 | Mission Testing, Data Collection, and Iteration | I can collect mission performance data and use it to improve the system. | Mission test data and iteration notes | Open Lesson |
| 3.18 | Final Mission Demonstration and Design Review | I can demonstrate an autonomous aerospace system and defend the design using logic, testing, and evidence. | Final mission demonstration and design review | Open Lesson |
Resources
Unit 3 Resources
Use these resources to support flowcharts, rover missions, VEX support systems, fluid-power labs, and design documentation.
CAD Resources
Use the Unit 3 project brief, build guide, template pack, and current class files to support rover mission and ground support work.
Linked Lesson Resources
Use the engineering graph paper, measurement data sheet, decision matrix, project planning worksheet, and design review form from the shared resource library during this unit.
Aerospace Rover Systems Build Guide
Use this guide to connect rover control logic, VEX/robotics mechanisms, test planning, and final mission evidence.
Open Rover Build Guide