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Build Your
Own
Robotic
Arm
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Learning Objectives
 Learn
about technological
design
 Use
mathematical calculations
for design
 Learn
about motion and force
 Practice
communication skills
through written and oral
exercises
European Robotic Arm
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Robot Arm
International Space Station
 Europe, through
ESA, is one of the five partners (NASA,
Russian Federal Space Agency, ESA, JAXA, CSA)
contributing to the development of the International Space
Station. The European Robot Arm (ERA) is one such
contribution.
 ERA
acts as a tool for:
 Installation, deployment and replacement of elements of
the Russian Segment of the International Space Station,
 Inspection of the Russian Segment,
 Support/transfer of EVA cosmonauts,
 Transfer of Orbital Replacement Units and other
assembly tasks.
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Robot Arm
The European Robot Arm
 Large
symmetrical robotic
arm with 7 degrees of
freedom
 The
arm consists of 2 End
Effectors, 2 Wrists, 2 Limbs
and 1 Elbow joint together
with electronics and
cameras. Both ends act as
either a “hand” for the
robot or the base from
which it can operate.
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Robot Arm
Building the European Robotic Arm
 We
will build a robot arm from simple
materials
 The
arm must pick up a plastic cup from a
distance of 45cm
 Lift
the cup to a height of at least 15cm
 Bring the cup back to rest and release it
 Pick
up cup upside down
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Robot Arm
You cannot get too close…
Robot Arm
Student
45cm
Cup
You cannot get any closer than
45cm to the cup at any time
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Robot Arm
Available Materials
 Wire
 Paper
 Cardboard
 Short
 Clothespins
 Tape
 Ice
 Paper
Cream sticks
 Rubber
 Binder
bands
clips
clips
pencils
fasteners
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Robot Arm
Outline and Procedures
 Divide
into teams of two (2)
 Review
the requirements
 Discuss
a solution and create a sketch of
your design
 Build
a model of your design with given
materials
 Test
your model
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Robot Arm
Redesign after testing
 Discuss
and agree upon a redesign
 If
needed after testing, or to enhance the
previous design
 Answer
reflection questions as a team
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Robot Arm
Design requirements
1.
The arm must pick up a plastic
cup from a distance of 45cm
 Lift the cup to a height of
at least 15cm
 Bring the cup back to rest and
release it
2.
Lift and release the cup when it
is upside down
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Robot Arm
Reflection Questions
 What
was one thing you liked about your
design? What is its main weakness?
 What
is one thing you would change about
your design based on your experience
 Are
there algebraic and physical principles
that can be applied to this activity?
 How
would you modify the instructions to
create a better experience for the
participants?