Build Your Own Robot Arm

This is a lesson plan to develop a robot arm using common materials. Students will explore design, construction, teamwork, and materials selection and use. Although stated as suitable for high school students it could be used in an introductory CC course in robotics to stress concepts. The full lesson plan and student worksheet are available as PDFs. Participating teams of three or four students are provided with a bag of simple materials. Each team must use the materials to design and build a working robot arm. The robot arm must be at least 18 inches in length and be able to pick up an empty Styrofoam cup. Teams of students must agree on a design for the robot arm and identify what materials will be used. Students will draw a sketch of their agreed upon design prior to construction. Resulting robot arms are then tested and checked for range of motion and satisfaction of the given criteria.