Red Rover Robotics
Students take a closer look at robots used in space
This lesson begins with a brief history of robotics, describing how robots are beneficial to engineering and society and then explores how robots have been used in recent space exploration efforts. The engineering design of the Mars rovers, Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity, are examples of advanced engineering design for space research. The maneuverability of these spacecraft's robotic arms and the functionality of their tools are discussed.
NASA engineers and scientists have successfully landed robotic rovers, Spirit ,Opportunity, and Curiosity on Mars to explore the terrain and gather evidence to determine the planet's history. Working as a team, engineers from several disciplines collaborated to achieve the complex task of designing and fabricating these two rovers. Electrical engineers designed and built the compact rover circuitry, mechanical engineers designed the body and arm, and computer engineers developed the rover programming and communication.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Describe the need for robots in engineering and society.
- Explain how robots explore space.
- Describe the importance of the cameras and tools of rovers.
- Recognize that science and engineering often depend on each other.