Making an Arm Extender

Problem: Prosthetic devices have helped humans who suffer from diseases that resulted in amputation or from limbs lost in battle for over three thousand years. ​The goal of a prosthetic is to help a patient perform ordinary, day-to-day activities. ​Decades ago, losing a limb would have posed many challenges for people. But as the years have passed, the invention and development of prosthetics has opened the door to a new world of possibilities for amputees. Technology in prosthetics has improved to the point where some amputees can do everything they did before they lost their limb.

Challenge:​​ ​​In this challenge, you and your group will design and instruct an arm extender to help lift a load.

On Tuesday March 20th 2018 - The Innovative Aces from the HLS STEAM TEAM participated in a STEAM Challenge at Rundle College Elementary School. The team competed against 20 other teams to make the best "Helping Arm". The "Helping Arm" was suppose to resembled a prosthetic arm. The challenge was to make a helping arm that could pick up the most weight. The team represented well and was able to create a working arm in the alloted time. Heloise Lorimer is very proud of the Innovative Aces! Alex Steffler (Gr. 4), Jakob Steele (5), Reese Ochitwa (5), Ronan McKeen (5)

Here is what the Innovative Aces created:

Criteria:

• Device must be at least 100 cm long
• Device must pick up and hold a load weight 3lbs
• Device must work with only ONE student operating it and that student is only allowed to use one hand/arm to control it
• You must create a blueprint design at the start of the competition and submit it to the judges
• Your group must be able to explain:
  • Why you chose the materials you used
  • How you came up with your design
  • How the design & building process went; challenges as well as things that worked well

Material Options:

4 newspaper pages

2 paper towel rolls

10 large paper clips

4 brown paper bags

2 large binder clips

3 clothespins

10 popsicle sticks

2 PVC pipes (30cm in length and 1 inch diameter)

6 pipe cleaners

1 strip of duct tape (200cm)

1 strip of masking tape (200cm)

Zip ties

1 roll of tin foil

1 plastic hangers

5 sheets of white paper (8 1⁄2” x 11”)

1 spool of kitchen string

cardboard (variety sizes)

5 straws

6 rubber bands

3 paper plates

2 latex gloves

1 glue stick

3 sheets construction paper

3 solo drinking cups

nails & screws (variety pack)

Tools:

** Note: Tools may not be used as part of the extender

• scissors
• exacto knife
• pliers
• hot glue gun (5 glue sticks available per team)
• screwdriver (phillips & slotted)
• meter stick
• stapler
• hammer
• protective eyewear
• gloves

Think About It - Post-Design Reflection:

• What were the most challenging parts of this maker challenge? How did you overcome the problems you encountered in the design and building process?
• What are some real-life situations where having a longer arm reach might be handy?
• A prosthesis consists of a number of different parts. There's the prosthetic limb itself, the socket (the connection or "interface" between the prosthetic limb and the patient's body), the attachment mechanism, and the control system. What are some things (qualities/characteristics) all holding devices have in common?
• Why is it important to collaborate to create complex devices like this?
• Do you think people who design devices like this “get it right” on their first try? What process do you think they go through to design a top quality product?