Robotics Engineering

Lesson Summary:
Estimated Duration: Three days, 55 minutes each, for instruction and group presentations
Grade
Content Area/Discipl ine: Technology
Standard: Design
Benchmark: B Recognize the role of engineering design and of
testing the design process.
Indicator: 3 Describe what an engineer does (e.g., analyze
information found on engineering society Web
site).
Content Area/Discipl ine: Sci ence
Standard: Science and Society
Benchmark: C Give examples of how thinking scientifically is
helpful in everyday life.
Indicator: 4 Describe how the pursuit of scientific knowledge
is beneficial for every career and in everyday life.
Ohio Academic Content Standards
6
The field of robotics engineering is a sub field of mechanical engineering. Robotics engineers design
robots and develop new applications for them for use in a wide range of industries. With new possibilities
for robotics due to advances in the computer sciences, robotics engineering is growing rapidly. From
production line robots to experimental robotics for the medical, military, and automotive industries, the
future of robotics engineering will certainly offer a range of opportunities for professionals entering the
field .
This three-day lesson introduces the topic of robotics engineering as a career choice. On Day One,
students will take a pre-assessment of their knowledge of robotics engineering. They will complete a
viewing l og based on a thirteen-minute video interview with a robotics engineer from Motoman
Corporation in Dayton, Ohio. On Day Two of the lesson, students will draw on a homework research
assignment to create five-minute group presentations on emerging technologies in the field of robotics
engineering. The lesson culminates with group presentations the following day.
Grade
7 Content Area/Discipl ine: Technology
Standard: Design
Benchmark: B Recognize the role of engineering design and of testing
the design process.
Indicator: 2 Describe the relationship between engineering, science,
mathematics.
Grade
8
Content Area/Discipl ine: Sci ence
Standard: Scientific Ways of Knowing
Benchmark: C Give examples of how thinking scientifically is helpful in
daily life.
Indicator: 3 Describe how the work of science requires a variety of
human abilities and qualities that are helpful in daily life
(e.g., reasoning, creativity, skepticism, and openness.)
Content Area/Discipl ine: Technology
Standard: Design
Benchmark: B Recognize the role of engineering design and of
testing in the design process.
Indicator: 1 Summarize the role of engineering design.
Indicator: 2 Describe the relationship between engineering,
science, and mathematics.
Content Area/Discipl ine: Sci ence
Standard: Science and Technology
Benchmark: A Find examples of how technological advances, influenced
by scientific knowledge, affect the quality of life.
Indicator: 1 Examine how science and technology have advanced
through the contributions of many different people,
cultures, and times in history.
Grade
9
2
Content Area/Discipl ine: Technology
Standard: Design
Benchmark: B Recognize the role of teamwork in engineering design
and prototyping in the design process.
Indicator: 5 Describe how engineering design is influenced by
personal characteristics such as creativity, resourceful-
ness, and the ability to visualize and think abstractly.
Content Area/Discipl ine: Sci ence
Standard: Scientific Ways of Knowing
Benchmark: B Recognize the role of teamwork in engineering design
and prototype design and of prototyping in the design
process.
Indicator: 8 Describe how engineering design is influenced by
personal characteristics, such as creativity, , , , , resourceful
ness, and the ability to visualize and think abstractly.
Vocabul ary
Actuator: a mechanical device for moving or controlling something
Al gorithm: a procedure for solving a problem, especially in mathematics or com-
puting
Assembl y Line: an arrangement of machines, equipment, and workers in which work
passes from operation to operation in direct line until the product is
assembled
Automati on: an apparatus, a process, or a system operate automatically
Desi gn: to create, fashion, or execute according to a plan
Kinematics: a science that deals with motion apart from considerations of mass
and force
Mechatroni cs: combination of mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, and
software engineering
Prototype: an orignal model for a new design
Robot: a device that automatically performs complicated, often repetitive
tasks
Service Robot: assists human beings, typically by performing a job that is dirty, dull,
distant or dangerous. Service robots typically are autonomous and/or
operated by a build in control system, with manual override options
Industrial Robotics: the study, design, and use of robot systems for manufacturing
Robotics: a technology dealing with the design, construction, and operation of
robots in automation
3
Procedure
1) Welcome students to Engineering Your Future: An Introduction to the World
of Engineering.
2) Distribute the pre-assessment Student Survey to all students and have them hand in after
completed.
3) Distribute copies of the Viewing Log. Have students complete the Assumptions column
based on their understanding of the robotics engineering field.
4) Introduce the topic of Robotics Engineering as a field of Mechanical Engineering. Then, play
the Robotics Engineering video from the series and direct students to complete the What I
Learned column while viewing. After viewing the video, give students additional time to
complete the Viewing Log. While students are viewing the video, take time to look over the
Student Surveys in order to help guide the class discussion following the video.
5) Hol d a short di scussi on of the vi deo i ntervi ew. What are the chal l enges of a
career in Robotics Engineering, as described by the engineer? What did you find most
interesting or surprising about the field of robotics engineering? What were some of the
assumptions you had about robotics engineering that have changed after viewing the video
interview?
6) Explain to students that cutting edge research is currently being conducted in robotics
engineering for application in a number of industries: military, medical, manufacturing,
automotive, and space exploration to name a few.
7) Describe how many of the newest developments in technology have come out of University
research facilities. Universities like Berkeley and MIT have college engineering programs
as well as departments devoted to research and development . Advise students that they
will be working in groups to find out more about these new developments in the field of
robotics engineering and will be presenting their findings in a class presentation.
8) Home work assignment Home work assignment Home work assignment Home work assignment Home work assignment: After the discussion, assign five cooperative groups to do short,
five-minute presentations. Students will research the latest robotics engineering projects
currently being developed by the MIT Field and Space Robotics Laboratory and the Center for
Information Technology Research at Berkeley. N NN NNO OO OOT TT TTE EE EE: :: :: Students wil l need internet access,
either at home, in the computer l ab, or at the l ibrary to conduct their research.
Day One
4
Procedure
Day One
9) Once group assignments have been made, assign the following research topics:
Sel f Transforming Robotic Pl anetary Expl orers
http://scripts.mit.edu/~robots/robots/projects/ol d_projects/niac/index.html
High Speed Rough Terrain Vehicl e
http://scripts.mit.edu/~robots/robots/projects/ol d_projects/darpa/index.html
Microbots for l arge Scal e Pl anetary and Sub-Surface Expl oration
http://scripts.mit.edu/~robots/robots/projects/microbots/index.html
Space Robotics System
http://scripts.mit.edu/~robots/robots/projects/jaxa/index.html
Robotic Fl y
http://www.berkel ey.edu/news/media/rel eases/2002/06/fearing/home.html
10) Distribute the Robotics Research Robotics Research Robotics Research Robotics Research Robotics Research Road Map. This worksheet will help guide students
research. Each group member should bring their completed Research Road Map to the next
class meeting to work on their group presentations.
1) Allow students to continue working in cooperative groups to complete their presentations.
Note: thi s day wi l l requi re work i n a computer l ab or l i brary wi th computer Note: thi s day wi l l requi re work i n a computer l ab or l i brary wi th computer Note: thi s day wi l l requi re work i n a computer l ab or l i brary wi th computer Note: thi s day wi l l requi re work i n a computer l ab or l i brary wi th computer Note: thi s day wi l l requi re work i n a computer l ab or l i brary wi th computer
acce s s . acce s s . acce s s . acce s s . acce s s .
2) Encourage students to use PowerPoint for their presentations and to include images of
their research topic. If not using PowerPoint, students should create handouts or
overheads.
Day Two
Day Three
1) Each group will present their findings for their assigned topic. Remind students that they
have five minutes to present. After each presentation allow time for each group to answer
questions from their classmates.
2) Use the group observation form to evaluate the presentations and collect the completed
Research Road Maps from each group member.
3) If there is not enough class time for all of the groups, allow the remaining groups to
present their topics in the following class period.
5
Student Survey
Name _____________ Date __________
Cl ass _____________ Period __________
Di r ect i ons: Answer t he f ol l owi ng quest i ons. Make a compl et e st at ement f or
each quest i on.
1) What is a robotics engineer?
2) What two disciplines work closely together in robotics engineering?
3) How is robotics used in manufacturing?
4) What types of technologies do robotics engineers work on?
5) What do students need to study to become a robotics engineer?
6) In what ways have robots improved the safety and health for workers in manufacturing industries?
7) What comes to mind when you think of a robot?
8) What are the two categories of robots?
6
Student Viewing Log
Name _____________
Cl ass _____________
Date ____________
Period ____________
Di r ect i ons: Recor d your assumpt i ons about t he f i el d of Robot i cs Engi neer i ng. Whi l e
vi ew t he vi deo l i st t he new i nf or mat i on you l ear ned i n t he appr opr i at e col umn.
assumpt i ons what i l ear ned r obot i cs engi neer i ng
What functions are performed
by robots in manufacturing?
Why are robots used for certain
tasks in the manufacturing
industry?
What two disciplines work
closely together in the field of
robotics?
What are the two categories of
robots?
What types of courses do you
need to take to pursue a career
in robotics?
What are the three Ds in
manufacturing?
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Research Road Map
Robotics Engineering
Group Members: Date:
Cl ass:
Research Topic: Period:
Di r ect i ons: Answer t he f ol l owi ng quest i ons t o hel p cr eat e your pr esent at i on
f or your assi gned t opi c.
1) Create a summary of the research topic under development by describing the project, its purpose,
and the design features of the final product.
2) How is the project innovative?
3) What are the practical problems addressed by the project?
4) Identify the field or industry this project will impact.
5) Who were the sponsors of the research and why?
6) How is this innovation an improvement on the previous technology?
7) For what will this new development be used?
8) Thinking back to the Engineering Your Future Video, which of the three Ds
(dangerous, dirty, degrading) will this project alleviate?
8
Group Observation Form
Robotics Engineering
Directions: Pl ease check the appropriate responses for each groups l evel of understanding
about Civil Engineering.
Group Members: Date:
Cl ass:
Research Topic: Period:
Obser ved Quest i ons
Cl ear l y
Under st ands Under st ands
Does Not
Under st and
Innovation and application of
project.
Practical problem addressed
by the proposed project.
Field or industry the project is
being created for.
Who were the sponsors of the
research and why?
How is this innovation an
improvement on previous
technology?
Purpose and function of the
final product?
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