Teachable Machine: Autonomous Snow Plow System

Autonomous snow plows use machine learning, a type of artificial intelligence, to recognize road signs and other environmental markers, like pathways and boundaries, even when they’re partially or fully covered in snow. In this project, you’ll capture photos of different types of road signs and environmental markers in various states of snow coverage. Using a free online machine learning tool (no programming required), you’ll train the model to recognize these signs under different snow conditions. Then, you’ll work on improving the model so it can accurately identify signs even in challenging winter conditions, making it more effective for safe and reliable snow removal operations.

Subject Matter: Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Standards: 3-5.CD.4, 6-8.IC.2, 6-8.IC.1, 3-5.IC.1, 6-8.PA.3, 3-5.PA.4, 6-8.CD.4, 6-8.CD.2, 3-5.CD.2
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Materials

Main Activity Instructions

  1. Brainstorm and/or research street signs
  2. Look at google maps to of the school area to integrate a local route that your class snow plow will travel
  3. Gather: Gather and group your examples into classes, or categories, that you want the computer to learn. Teachable Machine Tutorial 1: Gather
    • TIPS: Class 1 = Street sign 1, include images WITH and WITHOUT snow, Class 2 = Street sign 2, etc.
  4. Train: Train your model, then instantly test it out to see whether it can correctly classify new examples. Teachable Machine Tutorial 2: Train
  5. Export: Export your model for your projects: sites, apps, and more. You can download your model or host it online. Teachable Machine Tutorial 3: Export
  1. Brainstorm and/or research street signs
  2. Look at google maps to of the school area to integrate a local route that your class snow plow will travel
  3. Gather: Gather and group your examples into classes, or categories, that you want the computer to learn. Teachable Machine Tutorial 1: Gather
    • TIPS: Class 1 = Street sign 1, include images WITH and WITHOUT snow, Class 2 = Street sign 2, etc.
  4. Train: Train your model, then instantly test it out to see whether it can correctly classify new examples. Teachable Machine Tutorial 2: Train
  5. Export: Export your model for your projects: sites, apps, and more. You can download your model or host it online. Teachable Machine Tutorial 3: Export

Extension Opportunities

  • Use image editing software to create different snow covered conditions on photos for training and enhancing the dataset
  • Map a personal route for your snow plow
  • Write a persuasive letter to your local mayor arguing for the integration of autonomous snow plows for your city
  • Write an editorial about the positive and negative impacts of this new technology in your community
  • Use image editing software to create different snow covered conditions on photos for training and enhancing the dataset
  • Map a personal route for your snow plow
  • Write a persuasive letter to your local mayor arguing for the integration of autonomous snow plows for your city
  • Write an editorial about the positive and negative impacts of this new technology in your community

Answer Keys / Exemplars

Elements of this resource were created by Science Buddies and Google’s Teachable Machine, then curated by the team at Nextech.

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