Utilizing Polymers in a Biome to Optimally Design a Robot
A student example of a completed project.Copyright Picture taken by the teacher of student work.
This activity integrates life science, engineering, and materials science as students design a biome-specific robot. Students start by researching an assigned global biome, exploring its unique characteristics such as climate, terrain, and biodiversity. This research helps them understand the environmental challenges their robots will face. Next, they delve into the world of high-performance polymers, learning about their properties, uses, and applications. Using this knowledge and applying engineering design principles, students strategically select polymers to build a robot that can function effectively within their chosen biome's unique conditions.
Just like engineers who design everything from space rovers to smart textiles, students must understand the operating environment, choose materials that match the conditions, and justify their design decisions with data. They will also revise their work based on feedback, mirroring the process of real engineering teams. This project reflects the interdisciplinary work of engineers across industries—whether they are designing prosthetics that withstand diverse weather, developing survival gear for extreme climates, or creating robots for deep-sea exploration.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Describe how climate, terrain, and resource availability affect living organisms in different biomes.
- Select materials (polymers) based on their physical properties to solve environmental design challenges.
- Design and justify a biome-adapted robot using scientific reasoning and engineering principles.