Simple Machines: Robot Building Blocks
Grade Level:
6th – 8th grade (Engineering Design/Technology)
Lesson Description:
Students practice the engineering design process to develop a working manipulator arm for a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). Through the design process, students explore how simple machines are combined and used to develop complex systems, like manipulator arms. Students also develop a hydraulic actuator, to convert energy into motion for their designs.
Lesson Components:
Standards:
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):
- Performance Expectation: MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2
- Disciplinary Core Ideas: ETS1.A: Defining and Delimiting Engineering Problems; ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions
Ocean Literacy Essential Principles:
- Principle 7: FC d
Supporting Images/Videos:
Hydraulic Actuator. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration. Download larger version (jpg, 206 KB).
Simple Machines: Materials Needed Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration. Download larger version (jpg, 5.2 MB).
Simple Robot Arm. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration. Download larger version (jpg, 4.1 MB).
Hydraulic Actuator Siphon Demonstration
Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, University of Rhode Island – Inner Space Center. Download HD version (mp4, 18.1 MB)
Demonstration: Building a simple robotic arm model using a hydraulic actuator
Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, University of Rhode Island – Inner Space Center. Download HD version (mp4, 106.9 MB)
Supplemental Materials:
Fact Sheets
- Remotely Operated Vehicles (pdf, 740 KB) | en español (pdf, 382 KB) | em português (pdf, 2.07 MB)
- Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (pdf, 382 KB) | en español (pdf, 286 KB) | em português (pdf, 571 KB)
Exploration Notes – stories from the field
Related Topics:
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