From the Earth to Mars—Baby,
You Can Build My Car
In this activity students
are going to problem solve and simulate the work of a Rover Development Team,
creating and testing their own mechanical robotic-rovers for the Mars terrain.
Not only will students create a design for the rover, but they will design
realistic ways of propelling their rovers over rough terrain. Students will
be evaluated on design and mobility of the rover. Students must explore the
idea if speed is necessarily a good thing for a planetary rover, especially
if it's maneuvering in unknown terrain. A course, Ares Vallis 500, will be
designed for the rovers to navigate. Each team will run their rover over the
course one at a time. Students will have the opportunity on Tuesday for trial
runs. Each team is encouraged to make adjustments to their rovers and run
the trials again. Teams and their rovers will present to the class, and be
ready for evaluation on Date: __________ at the beginning of the class.
Outside of Class:
- Choose your group of 2-4 people.
- Determine who is going to be
responsible for gathering which materials. Don’t feel like you need
to bring whole rolls of foil, duct tape, packages of Popsicle sticks, etc.
You may want to get together with another group to help defray the costs.
- Take time to find out about
the surface on Mars. There are several good interactive Web sites online.
If you do a search for Mars, you will find everything you need. I would
suggest having at least one of your group members be in charge of doing
this.
- Assign different responsibilities
to each member. You need to have a design blueprint with labels, so someone
needs to keep track of this. Someone needs to present your model to the
class. This person must be able to explain the specifics of why/how the
rover is constructed. Give at least two people the responsibility of construction.
They will have the responsibility of final decision regarding revisions
and the final product.
- Get organized before Date:
__________. Ideally, you would have the rover designed and mostly constructed,
leaving the Date: __________ for testing and revision.
Specifications:
-
Constructed by
a group of 2-4 people.
-
Detailed blueprint/plan
that is the design of your project. This may have been revised along the
way, the one you turn in should be final copy format. This will include
labels and any explanation that you feel is needed.
-
Land rover
that is self-propelled—no batteries, fuel of any kind, solid or liquid
propellant.
-
Evidence that
the Mars terrain and restraints are part of the design and function of
the rover.
-
No larger than
a shoebox and no smaller than a shoebox.
-
Main body of
the rover is the shoebox.
-
Must be able
to navigate the terrain course.
-
Must be constructed
of materials that are on the approved list. These are the only materials
accepted for this project.
-
Should reflect
revision and cooperation. This assignment’s focus is problem solving.
Excuses regarding time management, poor planning, and group dynamics are
not valid.
Timeline:
Date: __________ (Amount of
class time set aside:_______)
By this time you need to have selected your group and acquired the approved
materials. You may use class time to begin the process of designing your
rover. By the end of the period you should at least have a design ready
for construction.
Date: __________ (Amount of
class time set aside:_______)
Begin building your rover. The
more specific your design, the easier this process will be. Take time to
build a quality product, this will help later on. Be careful of making changes
just for the sake of it. If you notice a flaw in the design, discuss with
the group and make a group decision whether or not to revise the rover’s
design. Ideally, you will finish building your rover.
Date: __________ (Amount of
class time set aside:_______)
You may test your rover on the
terrain today. Be ready to make adjustments and repairs. Instead of looking
to place blame, concentrate your efforts on finding a solution. Be open
to revision and changes, if it means creating a better more efficient product.
Keep your revisions within the specs.
Date: __________ (Amount of
class time set aside:_______)
Demonstrate and present to the
class. Come to class early to make any last second repairs. There will be
no time for finishing construction. Be ready to present.
Materials:
Students may use the following
materials in the construction of their rover. Only these materials are approved
for this project. Students are responsible for acquiring these materials
prior to Date:___________.
-
Shoebox—this
is the size limit for your rover. No rovers that are wider, smaller, or
longer than a shoebox will be considered for credit.
- Paper towel or toilet paper cardboard
rollers (limit 6)
- Sandpaper
- Sponge—thin or thick, your
choice
- Aluminum foil
- Rubber band (limit 4)
- Balloon (limit 3) no helium may
be used for this project
- Button (limit 4)
- Popsicle sticks and/or toothpicks
- Glue—either regular or hot
glue (students are responsible for bringing in their own hot glue guns)
- Duct tape—because you just
never know
Note: This assignment sheet is
being used by the High Plains R*TEC with the special permission of its creator,
Cindi Perrin. Reproduction of this page is acceptable as long as this note is
included.
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