http://www.teachengineering.org/view_activity.php?url=collection/wpi_/activities/wpi_hydraulic_arm_challenge/wpi_hydraulic_arm_challenge.xmlactivitytext/xmlThe Tufts Center for Engineering Educational Outreach, axisball and socketengineering design processfixed jointhinge jointhydraulicsjointpivotprototypepneumatic systemhydraulicprototypepneumatics

Students design and build a mechanical arm that lifts and moves an empty 12-ounce soda can using hydraulics for power. Small design teams (1-2 students) design and build a single axis for use in the completed mechanical arm. One team designs and builds the grasping hand, another team the lifting arm, and a third team the rotation base. The three design groups must work to communicate effectively through written and verbal communication and sketches.

Just like engineers, students in this activity follow the steps of the engineering design process. Engineers develop hydraulic arms for a variety of reasons. Hydraulic arms can be used in situations that are too difficult or dangerous for people to deal with directly or in automated systems. Examples include arms that lift heavy weights and arms that hold a load and unload them into a specific position. Identify the steps of the engineering design process.Follow along with the engineering design process as they design and build.Represent solutions to a design process in multiple ways.Describe and explain features and purpose of a design.Have a basic understanding of hydraulic and pneumatics.3023TeachEngineering.orgEric ChiltonKaren CarpenitoElissa Miltohttp://www.teachengineering.org/collection/wpi_/activities/wpi_hydraulic_arm_challenge/wpi_hydraulic_arm_challenge_attachment1.pdfhttp://www.teachengineering.org/collection/wpi_/activities/wpi_hydraulic_arm_challenge/wpi_hydraulic_arm_challenge_attachment2.pdfhttp://www.teachengineering.org/collection/wpi_/activities/wpi_hydraulic_arm_challenge/wpi_hydraulic_arm_challenge_attachment3.pdfhttp://www.teachengineering.org/collection/wpi_/activities/wpi_hydraulic_arm_challenge/wpi_hydraulic_arm_challenge_attachment4.pdfhttps://docs.google.com/View.aspx?docid=ah7pxzjtrzfd_baddp39ndp3dvhttp://k12engineering.blogspot.com/2006/01/hydraulic-arm-research.html http://science.howstuffworks.com/hydraulic.htm S101D432MassachusettsScience1.1 Given a design task, identify appropriate materials (e.g., wood, paper, plastic, aggregates, ceramics, metals, solvents, adhesives) based on specific properties and characteristics (e.g., weight, strength, hardness, and flexibility).68S1012153MassachusettsScience2.1 Identify and explain the steps of the engineering design process, i.e., identify the need or problem, research the problem, develop possible solutions, select the best possible solution(s), construct a prototype, test and evaluate, communicate the solution(s), and redesign.68S1009558MassachusettsScience2.2 Demonstrate methods of representing solutions to a design problem, e.g., sketches, orthographic projections, multiview drawings.68S1011180MassachusettsScience2.3 Describe and explain the purpose of a given prototype.68S1010C69MassachusettsScience2.4 Identify appropriate materials, tools, and machines needed to construct a prototype of a given engineering design.68United StatesCopyright 2012 - The Tufts Center for Engineering Educational Outreach, Tufts Universityhttp://www.teachengineering.org/policy_ipp.phphttp://www.teachengineering.org/2012-03-187Teacher