NASA SENSORS: Build A Sturdy Car/Rover Lynne Hehr, John Hehr, Cindy Cardwell, Mary Alice Mixon Center for Math and Science Education Arkansas NASA Educator Resource Center University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701

This is a...? RCX “brick” Brains and body of the car Uses infrared communication

This is a... ? Motor 9 volt with gear reduction powers the car

This is... ? Short cable connector Connects the motor to the “brains”

This is a... ? Double angle beam Used to connect the RCX to the front wheels

This is a... ? 2 by Beam

This is a... ? 1 by 6 Beam

These are... ? Plates Measured same as beams With or without holes

This is a... ? Plates help support motors 2 by 2 plate 6 by 8 plate

This is a... ? connector peg with knob connector peg with axle

These are... ? Wheels and hubs

This is... ? 1 X 4 Beam 1 X 16 Beam

6 peg 12 peg These are axels. How long are they? This is a...? 1 X 12 beam Axel lengths are measured just as beams and plates.

This is a... ? 2 x 4 plate 2 x 6 plate

These are... ? A gear is a wheel with regularly spaced teeth cut into its rim. One gear can turn another when its teeth mesh with the teeth of another gear. 24 tooth crown gear 40 tooth gear 16 tooth gear gears

These are... ? A pulley is a wheel with a grooved rim for a belt, chain, or rope. O ring and pulley wheels

Building a Sturdy Car/Rover Take the piece(s) shown on the screen - then pass the container to your team mate. Attach the pieces when directed to do so.

You will need this piece. 1 RCX The RCX is the body and brains of the car.

2 motors The motors power the car. You will need these pieces. 2 short cables The cables attach the RCX to the motors.

2 Connector Pegs with Axle These pegs have a connector on one end and an axle on the other. 4 Connector Pegs with Knob These connect the double angled beams to the RCX. 2 double angled beams These beams are used to attach the wheels to the RCX. You will need these pieces.

1 2 x 4 plate The plate will further support the motors. 2 1 x 10 plates These plate help attach the motors and make the car sturdy. 2 2 x 6 plates The plates are used to attach the motors to the RCX. You will need these pieces.

2 2 x 4 bricks Bricks help make the motors the same height as the RCX. 4 Tires Wheels are made from tires and hubs. 4 Hubs Hubs are the center part of tires. You will need these pieces.

Program Interface Computer Software Infrared tower RCX

Building a Sturdy Car/Rover

Attach the connector pegs with knobs to the RCX. Two pegs go on each side.

Attach the double angled beams to each side of the RCX. Make sure the angled side faces the IR window.

Attach the connectors with axle to the double angled beam. Notice that the axle end is sticking out.

Connect the two motors with the bricks.

Use the 2x6 plates to attach the motors to the RCX.

Turn over the RCX, carefully. The 1x10 plates and the 2x4 plate are used as additional support for the motors.

Put the hubs inside the tires and attach the wheels.

The cables connect the RCX to the motors.

The RCX brick

Test the car/rover… When your team has finished the car/rover, find an area with no obstructions, place it on the floor, press the on/off button and see what happens. Does it need adjustments? After several trials, return the intact car to the container and bring it to the front of the room.

The software Be sure to get Robolab if you have XP on your system.

Useful materials Gear trains and gear boards AIMS Brick Layers AIMS lesson activities NASA SENSORS sites MINDSTORMS ROBOLAB LEGO Dacta sets NASA Robotics lessons

Websites and Lego Booth For NASA SENSORS info, this PowerPoint lesson, and other materials, access: Center for Math and Science Education Arkansas NASA Educator Resource Center University of Arkansas Visit the Pitsco and LEGO booths #1826 and #1827