8th Grade STEM-ID:

Robot Rescue

General Description

During this 18-week 8th grade course, students will focus on the engineering design process and entrepreneurship, while using science and mathematics concepts in the context of applied problems. The course begins with a short design challenge in which students design and 3D print a cell-phone holder. Students then conduct experiments using a bio-inspired walking robot. The course ends with an open-ended challenge to design a rescue robot capable of navigating variable terrain. During the Robot Rescue challenges, students learn to use 3D CAD modeling software and 3D printing technologies. In addition, they explore math and science content, including modeling, data analysis, scientific procedure, friction, and systems thinking.

Activities

Below is a brief description of the challenges and timing for the Robot Rescue 8th Grade STEM-ID course. To access the instructional details and materials, click on the individual challenge titles.

Cellphone Holder Design Challenge (12 - 15 days) (see materials list for additional items)

This opening challenge is designed to instill the importance of the design process, communication, documentation, and precise measurement in the design of new products. Beginning the course this way sets the tone for entrepreneurial thinking—i.e. that products are designed for clients. During this challenge, students utilize the Engineering Design Process, documented using the web-based Engineering Design Process Log, and become familiar with how the two work together. They will work with a partner and each design a desktop holder for their partner’s cell phone per their partner’s requirements. Students must document the requirements and design a solution that meets their partner’s approval. They render their design using 3D modeling software and test the dimensions. Final solutions are 3D printed for additional testing and presentations.

Robot Rescue Systems & Investigation Challenge (25 - 30 days) (see materials list for additional items)

During this challenge, students explore the behavior of a walking robot on a variety of surfaces under different operating conditions. The activities focus on using sound scientific procedures, collecting quality data, and addressing relevant science content, including gait, friction, force, velocity, and data analysis. In terms of skills development, students will learn basic robot programming, which will be used heavily in the design challenge. In addition, students will collect data regarding the robot’s motion on a variety of surfaces. This data will be referenced during the final design challenge, as students will be asked to design a robot that can handle changes in surfaces. Students will gain understanding of how surface interaction influences the movement of living and non-living things.

Robot Rescue Design Challenge (20 - 25 days) (see materials list for additional items)

In the final design challenge, students will design a rescue robot capable of navigating a course that contains both surface and elevation changes. Students will use the entire engineering design process and will document the steps in the Engineering Design Process Log. As part of that process, they will document the design requirements and constraints and explore how to accommodate performance objectives, such as maximizing the speed with which the robot traverses the course. They will then be challenged to use CAD software to design new legs for the walking robot that can accommodate a variety of terrains, will prototype the legs using a 3D printer, and will make minor modifications to the physical robot design and the program to maximize performance. At the end of the challenge students will pitch their designs to the class.