Science, Technology

Robotic Exploration

3-4

Students will be able to:
Develop a strategy for coping with a time delay.
Evaluate different ways of compensating for time delays.

When space vehicles are sent deep into space, the farther they go from Earth the longer it takes messages to reach them. Scientists must calculate how long it will take a set of instructions to reach a vehicle on the way to Mars, for example. They must predict where the vehicle will be when the new instructions finally reach it. If a series of instructions are needed, they are sent at different intervals. Students will guide a Mars rover through the Martian terrain (class maze). Instructions will not be continuous, but given in time-delayed intervals.

Essential Question
How does distance make moving a remote-controlled rover difficult?

Preparation & Management
1. Watch the "Mars Rover" video with the class and discuss the following questions: What can you see on the video? What do you think you can't see? Do you think it would be easy or hard to move a rover on another planet? Why?
3. Group students in each class into teams of 4 (additional team members can rotate or share responsibilities).
4. In class, have each team design and construct a rover maze. Set a standard size for the rover maze. (Suggestion: 68 cm x 82 cm)

Procedures
1. This activity will require students to take on the roles of two different Teams: a Command Team and a Rover Team.
The Command Team includes:
Commander - gives directions for the Rover
Relay #1 - repeats the Commander's directions
Recorder - records the number of times the Commander speaks and total time to complete the maze
Timer - uses the stopwatch to track the time needed to complete the maze
The Rover Team includes:
Relay #2 - repeats the directions from Relay #1
Monitor - ensures that the Rover follows directions as stated by Relay #2 and that Relay #2 repeats directions exactly from Relay #1
Rover - moves the Rover based by following the directions exactly as stated
Camera Operator - operates the video camera so the Command Team can see the maze and follow the Rover

1. Have students practice by guiding the Rover through their maze. Have students record their practice times.
2. Ask for volunteers to be the Command Team and the Rover Team.
3. Using the Rover Team's maze, put the video camera on the maze with the Rover at the "start".
4. Allow the Command Team 15 seconds to look at the maze before giving their first direction.
5. Record the total time needed to go through the maze and number of commands given.
6. Let all groups participate as both the Command Team and Rover Team.
7. Have a group discussion about the difficulties of moving the rover through the maze. What do they think it would be like to control a rover on another planet?

Rules for the Rover Maze
1. Allow the Command Team 15 seconds to review the rover maze before they begin.
2. The Commander may only use the following words when giving directions:
• Direction - forward, backward, left, right, turn
• Distance - 10 cm, 5 cm, 20 cm, etc.
Example: 20 cm forward, turn left, and 10 cm backward
The Commander will give a set of verbal directions to Relay #1. Relay #1 will repeat the directions exactly. Relay #2 will repeat the direction from Relay #1. The Rover will follow the directions exactly as stated by Relay #2.
Once the Rover stops, the Commander will have 3 seconds to give another set of verbal directions to Relay #1.
5. Continue following this pattern (Commander gives directions, Relay #1 repeats directions, Relay #2 repeats directions, Rover follows directions) until the Rover reaches the end of the maze.
6. Record the total time of the journey and the number of commands given to the Rover. (Each command that results in the Rover running into an object will add ten seconds to the final time.)

Transfer & Extensions
1.Use the digital camera instead of the video camera. The Commander must relay the directions to the Rover. Once the Rover is in place, a digital picture is taken and sent to the Command Team. In the meantime, the Commander has given another set of directions for the Rover to follow. The Commander will not know exactly where the Rover is until he/she has given the next set of directions. This is how rovers on Mars were maneuvered. It was a very slow and time-consuming process.
2. Have students watch video hook Mars Rover and complete the writing prompts.



Writing Prompts for "Mars Rover" video
1. What can you see on the video?
2. What do you think you can't see?
3. Do you think it would be easy or hard to move a rover on another planet? Why?

Students will work collaboratively. Students will work in groups of 4.

2 class periods. 1 Hr per class.

Cut-out of Rover
Poster board (approximately 68 cm x 82 cm)
Supplies to construct a rover maze (pebbles, styrofoam balls, construction paper, etc)
Glue and/or tape
Stop watch
Ruler