More+About+the+Project

More About the Project Students will gain an understanding of the science behind energy and forces and motion and how they are keys to effective development and implementation of robotic structures. The course will include lectures, hands-on activites, online research, and group projects related to mechanical engineering design, electronics, technical communication and current research in robotics. Students will follow the principles of design, test and redesign to develop a functioning, effective robotic body. The project used the Tetrix kits: []

In addition to learning about robotics, energy and forces and motion, students will learn about and develop skills in:
 * Engineering processes
 * Time management
 * Project management
 * Problem solving
 * Teamwork

Key Components Students will:
 * Take part in individual as well as group learning activities
 * Give a group presentation at a culminating activit

Course Structure Week 1 will consist of classroom work so students understand the science of energy and forces and motion. Activities will include lecture, guest speakers and hands-on mini-labs.

Week 2 will focus on designing and building a robotic machine for NASA. The machine will provide remote operations to be done on another planet. Students will work in small teams to design and build a model for NASA.

Topics of Study Introduction to the science of energy
 * Potential and kinetic energy
 * Different forms of energy
 * Law of Conservation of Energy
 * The relationship among energy, work, force and power

Exploration of energy transfers and transformations
 * Transfers and transformations within a system
 * Exploring series and parallel circuits
 * The mechanic of generating energy

Understanding Forces and Motion
 * Exploring and analyzing measurement, accuracy and precision
 * Scalar and vector quantities of motion
 * Analyzing and graphing motion
 * Law of Conservation of Momentum
 * Forces and how they act on matter
 * Relationship between force, mass and acceleration
 * Friction and motion
 * Newton’s Laws of Motion
 * Archimedes’ Principle
 * Bernoulli’s Principle
 * Forces and motion in space
 * Calculating work, power and mechanical advantage
 * Simple and complex machines
 * Efficiency and mechanical advantage of machines

Robotics
 * Defining robotics
 * History of robotics
 * Robotic components
 * Design strategies
 * Structural criteria
 * Design, test and redesign