K–12 Mechatronics Projects
Light Refraction & Reflection
Mechatronics/Process Control Laboratory
Servomotor
Light source
Light sensor
The reflection experiment test-bed is used for
both light reflection and absorption
experiments.
A common laser pointer is used as the light
source. A photoresistor is used as the light
sensor.
KEY PARTS: SERVOMOTORS
PHOTORESISTOR
LASER POINTER
Light Refraction & Reflection
Mechatronics/Process Control Laboratory
Light source
Light sensor
Potentiometer
Limit switches
The refraction experiment test-bed is used to
measure the index of refraction for various media.
KEY PARTS: SERVOMOTOR
DC MOTOR
PHOTORESISTOR
LINEAR POTENTIOMETER
LASER POINTER
H-BRIDGE
LIMIT SWITCH
Heat Conduction & Periodic Motion
Mechatronics/Process Control Laboratory
DS1620
DB-15 adapter
The conduction experiment test-bed is used to
measure heat conductivity through the rod. A hole
has been bored into one end of each rod for the
heating element to be inserted. The other end of
the rod is placed into an ice water bath.
DS1620
KEY PARTS: THERMAL SENSOR
HEATER
ALUMINIUM ROD
ICE BATH
SOLID STATE RELAY
Heat Conduction & Periodic Motion
Mechatronics/Process Control Laboratory
Horizontal
reference
θ
IR transmitter
t
Mass
Vertical
reference
r
mg
IR receiver
The pendulum experiment test-bed is used to measure the
periodicity of a simple pendulum. The length of the pendulum is
adjusted by the servomotor through a pulley.
KEY PARTS: SERVOMOTOR
INFRARED EMITTER
INFRARED DETECTOR
MASS
Conductivity Experiment
Mechatronics/Process Control Laboratory
This experiment shows that conductivity of water
increases by adding salt content to the water.
Key
Parts:
DC Motor
Agitator
Reed Relay
Lab Beaker
Electrodes
Flow Control Knob
Static Friction
Mechatronics/Process Control Laboratory
The static friction coefficient test-bed is used to
experimentally determine the coefficient of static
friction between various surfaces. It consists of a
horizontal base and a plate that can be rotated
from a level plane to the vertical position.
Stopper
IR receiver
IR transmitter
Potentiometer
ADC with span and
offset
Circuitry
Stopper
H-Bridge
DC motor
KEY PARTS:
DC MOTOR
ROTARY POTENTIOMETER
ANALOG DIGITAL CONVERTER
INFRARED EMITTER
INFRARED DETECTOR
SMART 2003 Projects
Static Equilibrium
Teachers: Robert Gandolfo & Paul Friedman
T

FH
x

W3
W1
W2
FV
 FORCES = 0
 TORQUE = 0
Vdd
Vdd
P3
Incline
sensor
Vdd
Offset
ADC
0831
KEY PARTS: TWO SERVOMOTORS
ROTARY POTENTIOMETER
P4
SLIDE POTENTIOMETER
P5
LOAD CELL
Vdd
LEAD SCREW
The Smart Road
Physics Core Correlation: Kinematics
Teachers: Clay Davis & Richard Balsamel
A Mechatronics Demonstration Project
Servomotor Assembly
Board of Education
and Basic Stamp 2
Photogate
KEY PARTS: SERVOMOTOR
ROTARY POTENTIOMETER
LEDS
PHOTOTRANSISTORS
Catch Me If You Can
Teachers: John Luvera & Michael McDonnell
x  Voxt 
Vo cos 2Vo sin  
g
KEY PARTS: SERVOMOTOR
DC MOTOR
ROTARY POTENTIOMETERS
LAUNCHER
H-BRIDGE
SOLID STATE RELAY
ANALOG DIGITAL CONVERTER
The Physics of Projectile Motion
Teachers: William Leacock & Marlene McGarrity
KEY PARTS: SERVOMOTOR
DC MOTOR
ROTARY POTENTIOMETERS
PUSH SOLENOID
H-BRIDGE
INFRARED EMITTERS
PHOTOTRANSISTORS
ANALOG DIGITAL CONVERTER
SOUND
PLAYBACK
MODULE
The Ro-Boe-Clock
Teachers: Michelle Carpenter-Smith & David Deutsch
8
Y1
X
Z9Y9 9
A10
B10
C10
10
ED
10
GF10
H1010
H2
E8
F
G8
H8
I8 8
J
D8
K8
L8
M8
N8
O8
P8
I4
4
I9
L3
S2
V2
W2
2
B9
C9
A8
8
10
J4
O4
6
J9
K9
L
N99
M9
P
O99
Q
R99
N4M
4L
4
B8
5
T9
F3
P4
E3
Z2
D3
T2 A35 B3 C3 U2
X2
Y2
A9
Z7
W7
J5
E7
F7
D7 2
S
Z6 Y6 T5 5
G7
H7
A7
B7
K5
L5
M5
U5
4
I7
J7
Q4
R5
C7
6
Z5
P6
O6
N6
L6
M6
10
To teach children ages 4-7
how to tell time
A6
8
U
Encoder
KEY PARTS: BINARY ENCODER
PHOTORESISTORS
ROTARY POTENTIOMETER
SERVOMOTORS
INFRARED EMITTER
INFRARED DETECTOR
MOBILE ROBOT
2004 SMART Projects
The SMART Intersection
Teachers: Michael Koumoullos & Robert Winston
Key Parts:
IR LED
IR Phototransistor
Mechanical Relay
Light bulb
Quantum Leap
Teachers: Amanda, Gunning, & Ram Avni
This project demonstrates absorption or emission spectra
when an electron moves from one shell to another
Key
Parts:
Servomotor
Photoresistor
LEDs
The SMART Weather Balloon
Teachers: Ronald Occhiogrosso & Lennox Henry
The SMART Weather Balloon captures Temperature
and Pressure data from 0 to 9 m high.
Key
Parts:
Temperature/Humidity
Sensor
Parallax Homework Board
Radio Controlled Balloon
Velocity Monitoring via Magnetic Interaction
Teachers: Vincent Pereira & Steven Scharf
This project proves the Faradays Law that there is a linear relationship
between the induced voltage in a coil and the rate at which the magnetic
field changes within the loops
Key Parts: Coil
Magnet
IR LED
IR Phototransistor
Operational Amplifier
Analog Digital Converter
I Push! You Push Back!: Newton’s 3rd
Law in Action
Teachers: Dvora Geller, Ed Gruber, & Denise McNamara
This project proves Newton’s Third Law of motion
Key
Parts:
LCD
Load Cell
Punch Mitt
2005 SMART Projects
Coefficient of Restitution the
Bouncing Ball
Teachers: Lennon Safe and Carol Obler
The coefficient of restitution is a number which
indicates how much kinetic energy (energy of motion)
remains after a collision of two objects. This project
measures the coefficient of restitution and determines
how elastic the object is.
Key Parts : Ultrasonic Sensor
DC Motor
Vehicle of Revolution
Teachers: Henry Penna, Michael Fishenfeld, and Douraine Stewart
The objective of the project is to build a preprogrammed model that will roll or
drive a certain distance. The student determines the number of revolutions that
the car will make to get to the target and student will enter that prediction into the
model vehicle’s display screen and then observe moving vehicle.
Key Parts:
Lexan
DC Motor
LCD Display
Gears
Earth’s Seasonal Heat Absorption
and Climate Regions Model
Teachers: Joseph Renna and Rodolfo Vera
The Earth-Sun insolation model effectively shows the differences in
heat absorption at three latitudes set in the Northern Hemisphere
Key Parts:
Analog Temperature Probes
Servo Motor
LCD Display
Plexi Glass
The Heat Seeking Flame
Probe
Teachers: Michael Francesco and
Fady Ishak
The Heat Seeking Flame Probe (HSFP)
determines the hottest section in a flame.It
will vertically traverse a flame,sampling
different temperatures, until it locates the
hottest section of the flame.
Key Parts:
Type K Thermocouple
ADC 0831
Servo Motor
Plexiglass
Finding the Critical Angle of a
Prism
Teachers: Mustafa Kilic and Thomas Byrne
This project finds the critical angle of a medium. It explains
Concept of total internal reflection.
Key Parts:
Photoresistor
ADC 0831 Chip
Laser
Acrylic Lens
The Smart Resonance Tube
Teachers: Joe Rodichok and Robert Morris
The SMART Resonance Tube will accurately determine the tube length which forces
the tube into its first mode of vibration. This essentially makes the tube accept the
selected frequency as its first harmonic frequency.
Key Parts:
Speaker and Microphone
Dc Motor
Position Sensor
The Codon Decoder
Teachers: Vera Mihalcik and Cameron Jahn
Models the process of protein synthesis within the ribosome. Helps students
understand which amino acids are created by manipulating RNA coding.
Key Parts:
LCD
Potentiometer knob
Buttons
Servo motors and belts
Robo Submarine
Teachers: Joy Hinds and James
Kevin Mcmahon
This project illustrates the Archimedes'
Principle. The Robo submarine descends into a
body of water, stay for a set period of time,
collect data and stores the collected data
Key Parts: Solenoids 12 volt
Tank Valve
Airbrush propellers
pvc pipes