Operation Airdrop: Designing a Solution to Protect Cargo
An example of a spider web from an orb-weaver spider.Copyright 2016 James St. John, CC-BY-2.0, Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jsjgeology/31539594265
Introduce students to engineering design through this unique scenario—an airdrop! In this activity, students design and build a mechanism that can airdrop food aid and supplies to a county (or country) that is cut off from access via land, due to a natural disaster. The small design teams must work together to create the equipment needed to keep the resources intact after the airdrop, using the techniques of an orb-weaver spider in their design that successfully transports the food once it has landed and present their findings.
Cargo in aircrafts is subject to forces such as high altitudes, rough landings, and even rough air. The characteristics of materials used to develop devices to support airdrops are created by engineers who are responsible for innovating products that are durable, reliable, and functional from start to finish. Mechanical engineers possess an understanding of materials principles, physics, engineering, biomimetics and mathematics.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Apply the engineering design process.
- Design and construct a prototype.
- Test and refine their designs.
- Communicate their design process and results.