Introduction
The engineering task takes different formats each year but is typically something that is mechanical in nature and/or robotic. They involve using simple machines, paired with robotic vehicles, to complete a range of challenges which include navigation, transportation and safety.
There is a lot of different ways this could go, depending on what degree of automation you are aiming for, but previous projects have included laser cutting, 3D printing, Arduino and the use of our Lego EV3 kits for the building and coding of robots. |
Examples of previous tasks that have been completed include
- A vehicle that can be transported by a pod and navigate over terrain on Mars.
- A camera dolly that can navigate a given track in a set time.
- A function sideshow that can be played and that maximises profit for the operator
- A mechanism or vehicle to safetly move a chicken and transport an egg to a target area.
- A vehicle and transportation system that can transfer a load from a raised platform to a target area.
Assessment
In this unit of work you will make the choice on whether you are using the technology or the engineering tasks to complete the tasks listed below. You do not need to do this for both tasks.
Collaborative Inquiry
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The collaborative inquiry has two parts, the design, and the evaluation.
Collaborative Inquiry Design In this task you will collaborate to design and conduct a scientific/engineering investigation related to the focus of the STEMIE program in which the outcome is uncertain. In this case it will be based on the development of an innovative prototype to solve a real-world problem. You will individually record your work on, and critical thinking about, this task in a personal journal . The journal should include, but is not limited to:
This personal journal must have a maximum length of 8 pages. Collaborative Inquiry Evaluation In this part of the task you will individually evaluate the collaborative inquiry, in the style of a recorded pitch, defence, or justification. This evaluation should include:
The recorded pitch, defence, or justification should be a maximum of 3 minutes per student if oral or the equivalent if multimodal. |
Other Information
As part of your completion of the collaborative inquiry, you need to complete an individual journal of your work on this task, the link opposite gives a rough idea of what this could look like.
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In this project students were tasked with creating a sideshow that would give the biggest profit for the sideshow operator. In this case a more complex version of the classic "clowns" sideshow was created using the laser cutter for most of the structural parts, 3d printer for the baskets and spinners, and Arduino boards and servos to control the moving parts
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The robot shown below was designed as a way to collect eggs and transport them safely to a carton. It was one that was entered in the 2021 STEMIE regional showcase. The robot was made of Lego EV3 kits with some custom 3D printed parts, that interface with the Lego, to safely pick up and put down the egg. Although the robot is mostly controlled manually the pickup and put down of the egg were automatically triggered by driving over the green tape and yellow tape on the track respectively.
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