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Status

Open

Estimated Completion Time

16 - 18 Weeks

Overview

Are you fascinated with how machines work? Robots are machines, and they are all around us, from helping doctors in surgeries to helping to keep our homes clean. Explore physics, mechanics, motion, and engineering design and construction aspects used to develop robots. Learn how models are created through both sketches and software. Discover STEM careers and the education needed to enter this high-demand field.

During this course, you will learn career-related skills and earn a badge for this accomplishment. A badge is a digital certification of your career-related learning that you can share on social media or with higher education platforms, colleges, potential employers, peers, and colleagues. Select this link to learn more about badges.

Course Requirements

Physical
  • Audio recording device
  • Two-button mouse with middle scroll wheel
  • Video recording device
  • Digital camera or scanner
Software

Major Topics and Concepts

Unit 1: Work with Robots

  • Describe the educational requirements for career goals
  • Explain ethical issues and resolutions in STEM careers
  • Identify human rights and appropriate etiquette in a diverse workplace
  • Explore occupations in industrial robotics and engineering

Unit 2: Health and Safety

  • Identify OSHA standards and how hazards are communicated in the workplace
  • Follow general lab safety procedures
  • Distinguish between fire prevention and emergency fire procedures
  • Explain emergency first-aid procedures

Unit 3: Simple Machines, Mighty Mechanisms

  • Describe the use of the six simple machines as they relate to robotics
  • Calculate torque as it applies to mechanical advantage
  • Determine mechanical advantage of various machines
  • Identify various drivetrain systems

Unit 4: Let’s Build a Model

  • Discuss engineering drawings standards
  • Evaluate tools used in computer-aided design
  • Enhance your spatial reasoning skills
  • Identify measuring tools used in engineering

Unit 5: Robot Mechanics and Motion

  • Describe the design and construction of a robotic arm
  • Demonstrate knowledge of robotic joints
  • Identify various robot end effectors or manipulators
  • Explain a variety of robots and their mechanical form

Unit 6: Robot Physics

  • Describe the principles of robotic physics
  • Discuss linear displacement, velocity, acceleration, and momentum
  • Explain angular displacement, velocity, acceleration, and momentum
  • Calculate vector forces
  • Understand the impact of inertia and momentum on robotics

Unit 7: Engineering Design Methods

  • Keep an engineering notebook
  • Understand the role of criteria and constraints in the design process
  • Apply the engineering design process for robotics
  • Identify aspects of quality in a product
  • Describe tools used for prototyping and mass production

Unit 8: Keeping Robots and Coworkers Happy

  • Explain the importance of effective teamwork in the fields of engineering and robotics
  • Employ critical thinking skills to solve problems both independently and as a team
  • Conduct technical research to gather decision-making information
  • Identify appropriate workplace standards of behavior
  • Understand the process of developing, analyzing, and testing a prototype

Credits .5

Competencies

  • The Robotics Industry
    Students will demonstrate an understanding of the robotics industry by explaining the basics of robotics; describing careers, educational requirements, and skills in robotics and engineering; and explaining safety standards and procedures.
  • Machines and Modeling
    Students will demonstrate an understanding of machines and modeling by explaining simple machines, tools and modeling techniques, the process of sketches to prototypes, and mechanical systems and energy.
  • Robotic Motion, Mechanics and Physics
    Students will demonstrate an understanding of robotic motion, mechanics and physics by describing the elements and applications of robotic mechanisms, dynamics, linear and angular kinematics, and inertia and momentum.
  • Engineering Design and Robotics Systems
    Students will demonstrate an understanding of engineering design and robotics systems by describing and applying the engineering design process, explaining the process of creating prototypes, and explaining the importance of teamwork and critical thinking skills in engineering and robotics.

Pre-Requisites

None
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