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Grades 6-8

Simple Machines: Robot Building Blocks

Grade Level:

6th – 8th grade (Engineering Design/Technology)

Lesson Description:

Students practice the engineering design process to develop a working manipulator arm for a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). Through the design process, students explore how simple machines are combined and used to develop complex systems, like manipulator arms. Students also develop a hydraulic actuator, to convert energy into motion for their designs.

Lesson Components:

Standards:

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): 

  • Performance Expectation: MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2
  • Disciplinary Core Ideas: ETS1.A: Defining and Delimiting Engineering Problems; ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions

Ocean Literacy Essential Principles: 

  • Principle 7: FC d

Supporting Images/Videos:

NOAA Ocean Exploration Education Team Manager, Susan Haynes, demonstrates construction of a simple hydraulic actuator using two oral syringes, a short length of aquarium tubing, and water (dyed green).

Hydraulic Actuator. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration.
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Simple Machines: Materials Needed.

Simple Machines: Materials Needed. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration.
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Simple Robot Arm.

Simple Robot Arm. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration.
Download larger version. (jpg, 4.1 MB)

Hydraulic Actuator Siphon Demonstration. Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, University of Rhode Island – Inner Space Center.
Download larger version. (mp4, 18.6 MB)

Demonstration: Building a simple robotic arm model using a hydraulic actuator. Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, University of Rhode Island – Inner Space Center.
Download larger version. (mp4, 109.4 MB)

Supplemental Materials:

Fact Sheets

Exploration Notes – stories from the field