Potential Energy Design Challenge

For this project we had to design, build, and program a robot to complete a task. We chose to make a robot that slices fruit. The Slicer will do the work for anyone who doesn't want to cut their own fruit. In thos project we also calcuated the potential and kinetic energy of our robot slicer.

Potential Energy Efficiency Engineering Process Log (49pts) 

Company Name___Starship Robotics__  Team members__Test O___

Problem: (1 pt) 

Design and build a robot that uses the following to do a job using the least amount of power possible:

• Gravity

• Height

• Mass

• Velocity

Science Standards your project can address: 

PS2 - Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions - Provide evidence that the change in an object’s motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object.

PS3 - Energy - Describe the relationship of kinetic energy to the mass of an object and to the speed of an object.

Examples: Robotic cutter, slicer, switch pusher, keyboard typer, hole puncher, etc., be creative!

Our robot will: _____deliver water_______

Research (12 pts)

Define the following in your own words, then draw a picture to model the word.

1. Potential Energy:__________________________________________

________________________________________________________

2. Kinetic Energy:  ___________________________________________

________________________________________________________

3. Mass:  ____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

4. Gravity:  __________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

5. Velocity:  _________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Research Continued (6 pts)

The formula for calculating Potential Energy is =         

  Potential Energy = mass(grams) x gravity(m/sec2) x height(meters)   

1. Knowing this, what can you do to increase the potential energy of a system? 

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

The formula for calculating Kinetic Energy is =         

Kinetic Energy = mass(grams) x velocity(m/sec2)

                            2   

2. Knowing this, what can you do to increase the kinetic energy of a system? 

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Building Design Prototype (12 pts)

1. Draw your first robot design. 

2. Label where and write how each of the following works in your design:

   1. Potential Energy

   2. Kinetic Energy

   3. Gravity

   4. Height 

   5. Mass 

   6. Velocity

3. Describe why you think this design will be efficient (have a lot of energy while using little power). 

4. Write how much power (1-100) you will start the robot with. 100 went to down 50

5. Write what the robot will do if it works perfectly.

6. Both partners need to be working the entire time. List each partner’s jobs. 

Test O did everything!

Redesign (8 pts)

1. After testing your design, describe the strengths and weaknesses of your design.

2. Write the height, mass, and velocity of the part of the robot that is doing the work.

1. Height (write in meters)_9 cm = .09 m — 90 cm = .9 m___

2. Mass (write in grams) ___54 g___

3. Velocity (write in meters/sec)_____.06m / .5 s = .12 m/s__

3. Draw and label changes you will make that will improve the robot’s efficiency.

4. Describe how these changes will improve your design.

5. Extra credit: Calculate the potential energy of your robot.

Commercialization (Final Product) (10 pts)

1. After completing the final design, draw your final robot.  

2. Graph how efficient (amount of power used) your robot was compared to others.

3. If you had more time, how would you make your design more efficient?