Physics & Robotics: Power Transmission
Lesson Overview
Media: Video (18 minutes)
Seat Time: 6 Classes | 300 minutes teaching
Goal:
To analyze the mechanical advantages and applications of simple machines and gears in robotics.
Description:
This lesson covers the applications and analysis of the six simple machines and gears in robotic systems.
Objectives:
1. To understand the application of the six simple machines in robotics.
2. To analyze types of gears and gear trains to determine the gear ratio.
3. To apply knowledge of mechanical advantage to the design of power transmission systems in robotics.
Class 1
Class Overview:
Simple Machines in Robotics Video Segment
Action Plan
Vocabulary Handout
Key Concepts
Simple Machines in Robotics Check for Understanding
Stranded with Simple Machines Project
Essential Questions:
1. What is a simple machine?
2. How are simple machines used in robotics systems?
Step 1: Bell Ringer:
· Provide students two to three minutes to locate a simple machine in the classroom. With a partner, they should identify the simple machine and explain why it is a simple machine.
Step 2: Distribute the Action Plan, Vocabulary Handout and Key Concepts.
· The Action Plan lays out a list of tasks for students to complete during the lesson.
· The Vocabulary Handout is a list of terms used throughout the lesson.
· The Key Concepts is an outline which identifies the main ideas presented in the lesson which students can fill in to aid in note taking during the lesson.
Step 3: Show the Simple Machines in Robotics video segment.
· This video is eight minutes long.
· Be sure to utilize the Key Concepts for this segment of the lesson.
Step 4: Administer the Simple Machines in Robotics Check for Understanding.
· The check for understanding is a short review of the content presented in the segment.
Step 5: Students should begin the Stranded with Simple Machines Project.
Step 6: Exit Ticket:
· Instruct students to meet with their partner from the beginning of class to discuss if the machine identified earlier is one of the six simple machines.
Class 2
Class Overview:
Action Plan
Stranded with Simple Machines Project
Step 1: Bell Ringer:
· Project the following scenarios on the board for students to read. Facilitate a discussion about which simple machine would help solve each problem.
- A well in a small village is the only safe water source for many families. Elderly adults and children struggle to lift the full water bucket out of the well.
- A bakery stores heavy flour bags in the basement. Employees struggle to carry the heavy bags up and down the stairs, often risking injury.
Step 2: Students should complete the Stranded with Simple Machines Project.
· Students will use their understanding of simple machines to identify items from a shipwreck and the environment to help escape a deserted island in the tropics.
Step 3: Exit Ticket:
· Students should turn in the Stranded with Simple Machines Project.
Class 3
Class Overview:
Gears & Gear Trains Video Segment
Action Plan
Key Concepts
Gears & Gear Trains Check for Understanding
10,000-Year Gears Project
Essential Questions:
1. How are gears used in robotic systems?
2. How do engineers design and analyze power transmission systems with gears?
Step 1: Bell Ringer:
· Students should think about where they interact with a mechanical system with gears during their typical day and then draw what the gear system might look like.
Step 2: Show the Gears & Gear Trains video segment.
· This video is ten minutes long.
· Be sure to utilize the Key Concepts for this segment of the lesson.
Step 3: Administer the Gears & Gear Trains Check for Understanding.
· The check for understanding is a short review of the content presented in the segment.
Step 4: Students should begin the 10,000-Year Gears Project.
· Students will design a multistage gear train with an output gear which rotates once every 10,000 years.
Step 5: Exit Ticket:
· Students should share their gear train ideas from the 10,000-Year Gears Project with a small group.
Class 4
Class Overview:
Action Plan
10,000-Year Gears Project
Step 1: Bell Ringer:
· Show students a video of Arthur Ganson’s Beholding the Big Bang sculpture.
· Facilitate a class discussion about some of the gears Ganson used and how they might be applicable to robotics.
Step 2: Students should complete the 10,000-Year Gears Project.
· Students will create an infographic to highlight applications of the six simple machines in robotics systems.
Step 3: Exit Ticket:
· Students should double-check the math used in the 10,000-Year Gears Project.
Class 5
Class Overview:
Action Plan
Simple Machines in Robotics Project
Step 1: Bell Ringer:
· Think, Pair, Share: Students should consider the following question before discussing it with a partner:
- How are simple machines used in robotics systems?
Step 2: Students should begin the Simple Machines in Robotics Project.
· Students will create an infographic to highlight applications of the six simple machines in robotics systems.
Step 3: Exit Ticket:
· Students should provide a status update for their Simple Machines in Robotics Project and consider all items still needed to complete the project.
Class 6
Class Overview:
Action Plan
300 for 300 Bell Ringer Activity
Physics & Robotics: Power Transmission Final Assessment
Simple Machines in Robotics Project
Step 1: Bell Ringer:
· Students should complete the 300 for 300 Bell Ringer Activity.
Step 2: Administer the Physics & Robotics: Power Transmission Final Assessment.
· The assessment is a comprehensive assessment covering material throughout the entire lesson.
Step 3: Students should complete the Simple Machines in Robotics Project.
· Students will create an infographic to highlight applications of the six simple machines in robotics systems.
· Students should turn in the 10,000-Year Gears Project and the Simple Machines in Robotics Project before leaving class.
Project Overview
Stranded with Simple Machines
Students will need to use their creativity and design skills to develop different ways simple machines could be used to find food, water and shelter after being shipwrecked on a tropical island. Begin the project by facilitating a class discussion in which students will identify the materials available after a shipwreck on a deserted tropical island. Keep a list of the items in a space the students can refer to throughout the project. Students will meet with two different partners to discuss how the materials can be used to build simple machines to complete the provided tasks. Based on each discussion, students should complete two ideas and drawings related to shelter and two ideas and drawings related to food and water. Each idea should integrate the use of the listed materials to build a simple machine. This project promotes student creativity and allows them to think critically about how simple machines can be used in various ways.
Accommodations:
Provide students with ideas of how simple machines can help build shelter and find food or water.
Modifications:
Assign students with one task and one simple machine.
Extension:
Students will select one idea from their project and then try to build the idea.
10,000-Year Gears
Students will use their knowledge of spur gears, compound spur gears and gear trains to design a kinetic art piece which meets specific parameters. They will need to apply their knowledge of power transmission components to develop a viable solution to this problem and discuss with a partner if their design is optimized for the task.
Accommodations:
Students can work in small groups or be allowed additional time.
Modifications:
Students can be given additional guidance on which gears to use or the time frame for the output can be reduced to simplify the design of the gear train.
Extension:
Planetary Gears Off-Planet: Planetary gears are commonly used in robotics since they offer a significant mechanical advantage in a small package. Students should find an example of a planetary gear system which has been used on a space rover or other robotic system which has been to space.
Simple Machines in Robotics
Students will create an infographic to showcase how each simple machine is used in robotic systems. Before starting the project, inform students if they are to complete the infographic by hand or using a computer. This project enables students to think critically about the application of simple machines.
Accommodations:
Provide students with ideas of how simple machines are used in robotics systems.
Modifications:
Provide students with a template of an infographic with images which has enough space to write descriptions for each.
Extension:
Students will design a robotic system using three of the six simple machines.
Career & Technical Student Organizations
FIRST Robotics
VEX Robotics
Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) International ROV Competition
National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS)
HOSA
Medical Innovations
SkillsUSA
Additive Manufacturing
Automated Manufacturing Technology
Engineering Technology/Design
Career Connections
Using the Career Connections Activity allows students to explore careers associated with this lesson by viewing career interviews with various industry professionals. The career interviews are located in the Select Media drop-down menu on the lesson page. See the Career Connections Activity for more details.
Joel Richard, Mechanical Engineer, Hoover Dam
