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Grades 6-8

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:

NOAA Ocean Exploration Education Team Manager, Susan Haynes, demonstrates construction of a simple hydraulic actuator using two oral syringes, a short length of aquarium tubing, and water (dyed green).Hydraulic Actuator. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration.
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Simple Machines: Materials Needed.Simple Machines: Materials Needed. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration.
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Simple Robot Arm.Simple Robot Arm. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration.
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Hydraulic Actuator Siphon Demonstration. Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, University of Rhode Island – Inner Space Center.
Download larger version. (mp4, 18.6 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 larger version. (mp4, 109.4 MB)

Supplemental Materials:

Fact Sheets

Exploration Notes – stories from the field