Renewable Energy Design: Wind Turbines

Each group needs:

• paper and pencil, for sketching rotor blade designs
• LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 robot, such as EV3 Core Set (5003400) at https://education.lego.com/en-us/products/lego-mindstorms-education-ev3-core-set/5003400#lego-mindstorms-education-ev3.
• LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3 Software 1.2.1, free online, you have to register a LEGO account first; at https://www.lego.com/en-us/mindstorms/downloads/download-software
• computer, loaded with EV3 1.2.1 software
• LEGO MINDSTORMS Renewable Energy Add-On Set (solar, wind and water), available at Amazon; includes solar panel, generator and energy meter
• desktop 3D printer and associated desktop 3D printing software, such as MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printer, available at https://www.makerbot.com/3d-printers/replicator/, and the MakerBot Desktop BETA v3.7 3D printing software, available for free download at https://www.makerbot.com/3d-printers/apps/makerbot-print/; if a desktop 3D printer is not available, consider making a donation request at www.DonorsChoose.org to help offset the cost of this useful classroom product; DonorsChoose.org is only for educational purposes
• 3D CAD/modeling software, such as Google SketchUp, available for free download at www.sketchup.com
• a wind source, such as a fan with an effect of at least 40 W, enough to be able to provide a 2.0 V reading on the LEGO energy meter
• Wind Turbines Pre-Quiz (PDF), one per student
• Rotor Blade Data Analysis Worksheet (PDF), one per group
• Wind Turbines Post-Quiz (PDF), one per student

Alternative: LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Set:

Note: This activity can also be conducted with the older (and no longer sold) LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT set instead of EV3; see below for those supplies:

• LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robot, such as the NXT Base Set 
• LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT Software 2.1