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Description

Build a robotic arm and complete space rescue missions with skill and teamwork!

Resources

You’ll need
Robotic arm template (one per group)
Device with internet connection (optional)
Scissors (per group)
Box cutters (per group)
Split pins (15 per group)
Hot glue gun
Toy building bricks or wooden blocks
Ping pong balls
Marshmallows
Small bucket
Medium sized plastic bowl
Timer or stopwatch
A4 Strong card X 4

Instructions

Gather everyone together and tell them that today they will understand how robotic arms are used in space missions.

You are a team of engineers working on the International Space Station. A critical piece of equipment has broken outside the station. It’s too dangerous for an astronaut to go on a spacewalk, so you must design and operate a robotic arm to fix it.

The success of your mission depends on precision, speed, and teamwork!

The task today will be building a simple mechanical “robotic arm” using everyday materials. They will then test their robotic arm through a series of space-themed challenges that require precision and teamwork.

Show a picture or short video of the Canadarm2, the robotic arm on the International Space Station (ISS). Robotic arms are used to capture spacecraft, move supplies, and assist astronauts. They must be accurate, strong, and easy to control.
Separate everyone into pairs.

Give each team their own craft equipment pack as listed on the 'You will need' list above on the webpage.

Firstly they need to cut out the template and use that to draw onto the card.
They then cut out the pieces of card.

On each of the strips of card mark dots about 3 cm from each end with a pencil.

Overlap two strips in an “X” shape and connect with a split pin at the centre.
Repeat until you have three X-shaped sections linked together.

The final two strips should be attached to the two last X-shaped sections, on each side with split pins.
Connect the two circles, one on each ends of the strips (stick to the opposite end to step 11) each with hot glue gun and weight it down with books or something heavy so it sticks.

Once you are happy with your robotic arm test it out with the following missions:

Mission 1: Satellite capture
A satellite is damaged by space debris and needs fixing. You need to capture it and bring to the space ship docking zone without dropping it.

You'll need:

ping pong ball (satellite)
small bucket (docking zone)

Mission 2: Hazard removal
There are a lot of asteroids floating around the space station. If they are not removed they could hit the space station and cause serious damage. You need to collect these asteroids and move them to the hazards bin.

You'll need:

Three marshmallows (asteroids)
Medium size mixing bowl (hazards bin)

Mission 3: Precise placement
The space station needs a new solar panel tower to ensure that it has good supply of solar energy. You need to stack blocks to build a tower.

You'll need:

Three toy wooden blocks

Mission 4: Emergency repair
Complete all three missions in under 10 mins or in the fasted possible time.

Tags

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Badge Links

• Space - Technology
• Teamwork - Goal
• Teamwork - Team-building