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Desert Rover

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Abstract

In this challenge, students build a rubber-band-powered rover that can move linearly. Students will follow the engineering design process to design and build a rover out of cardboard, figure out how to use rubber bands to spin the wheels, and improve their design based on testing results. Learners will be aware of different processes that use energy to create motion and how that energy is used or dissipated (through friction, for instance).

This activity should be developed in groups of 2 or 3 learners. Teachers should help maintain the motivation of the learners particularly when they are struggling with their concept (the rover does not move or moves randomly).

Source Nasa/JPL-Caltech https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/activity/roving-on-the-moon/

Learning Outcomes

Skills and Competences

The learners can develop the following skills and competences:

  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Leadership
  • Communication and presentation skills
  • Designing a solution to a complex problem by breaking it into small, manageable problems
  • Apply the engineering design process to solve problems
  • Management of time and resources

Knowledge

The following knowledge can be gathered by the learners:

  • Basic principles of energy (kinetic and potential)
  • Basic principles of kinematic physics
  • Basic principles of motion
  • Basic principles of friction

Other Instructions

Collect the materials assigned to you. 1. Make the body. Fold the cardboard into thirds. Each part will be about 2 inches (5 cm) across. Fold along (not across) the corrugation (the tubes inside a piece of cardboard). 2. Then, make the front wheels. On the two 5-inch (13-cm) cardboard squares, draw diagonal lines from corner to corner. Poke a small hole in the center (that’s where the lines cross). On the body, poke one hole close to the end of each side for the axle. Make sure the holes are directly across from each other and are big enough for the pencil to spin freely. 3. Now attach the front wheels. Slide the pencil through the body’s axle holes. Push a wheel onto each end. Secure with tape. 4. Next, make the rear wheels. Tape the straw under the back end of the rover. Slip a candy onto each end. Bend and tape the axle to stop the candies from coming off. 5. Finally, attach the rubber band. Loop one end around the pencil. Cut small slits into the back end of the body. Slide the free end of the rubber bands into the slits.

URL

RESOURCES

Author

Carlos Vaz de Carvalho
Carlos Vaz de Carvalho

Language

English

Main Topics

Science

Keywords

Energy Motion Rover Rubber-banding