Teaching STEM usingLEGO® Underwater Robots

Mercedes McKay

The Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science EducationStevens Institute of Technology

About Stevens / CIESE

WaterBotics in ActionOn the surface and underwater

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC4brbxNugc

What is WaterBotics?• Underwater ROVs (Remotely

Operated Vehicles) created with LEGO materials

• Approximately 20-26 hour curriculum aimed at middle and high school classes as well as summer camps and after-school programs

• Developed, piloted, and implemented with thousands of students in U.S. through National Science Foundation funding

Why Underwater Robotics?• Presents unique, complex design

challenges not found in land-based projects (e.g. buoyancy, control in 3-D)

• Exposure to science concepts like propulsion, drag, buoyancy and stability, gearing, torque, speed, and thrust

• Awareness of careers that involve STEM skills

Why LEGOs?

• Familiarity with LEGOs

• Ease of use and durability

• Variety of pieces

• Rapid prototyping, testing, and

redesign

• Can leverage prior purchases of

LEGO equipment

NXT & EV3 (coming soon!)

What do you use?

Project Challenge

Create an ROV that will be able to:

• Dive under the water

• Move around in 3 dimensions in a fully controlled manner

• Pick up weighted whiffle balls and deposit themin sunken bins

Mission 1: Rescue!• Build a robot that can travel forward and

backward on the surface of the water

• Optimize gearing to improve speed and/or control

• Use the robot to save a “drowning swimmer”

Mission 1Example Achievements

Mission 2: Clean Up!

• Add steering and two-dimensional movement

• Maneuver the robot on the surface of the water to clean up an oil spill

Mission 3: Mine Sweep!

• Engineer a buoyant and stable robot that can dive under the water

• Detonate or disable underwater “mines” to make a shipping lane safe

Mission 4: Collect!

• Produce an ROV that can retrievesamples from a sunken ship

• Optionally, create a mechanism to grab and release the objects

Program a Custom Remote

Key Concepts and Skills

Buoyancy Stability

Newton’s Laws Propulsion

Gear Ratios Inertia

Forces Torque

Volume Density

Programming Troubleshooting

Iterative Design Team Building

Next Generation Science Stds

SCIENCE• PS2.A: Forces and Motion• PS2.C: Stability and Instability in

Physical Systems

ENGINEERING• ETS1.A: Defining and Delimiting

Engineering Problems• ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions• ETS1.C: Optimizing the Design Solution

ISTE Standards

STUDENTS1. Creativity and Innovationthrough iterative engineering design process

4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making through mission-based, real-world application of underwater robotics

TEACHERS1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativitythrough authentic problem-solving, collaboration and recognition of achievements

Implementation Approaches

In School

• Within a graded course• Standards to be met• School restrictions (pool)• In a required course

o Higher learning curveo Better girl / boy ratioo More inexperienced students

• In an elective courseo More flexible wrt standardso Higher initial enthusiasmo More boys, more experienced students

Out of School

• Summer camp or after-school• More flexibility• Can use full project time• More focus on enthusiasm and

experience rather than grades• Can be tailored for specific

audiences, such as an all-girl camp or an outreach program

• Can be intense; need breaks and icebreakers

In school or out of school?

Implementation Considerations• Pool setup • Room configuration and access to computers• Educator prior experience with robotics and

technology• Equipment needs per group• Costs of materials

Why Implement WaterBotics?• Excellent at teaching engineering and inspiring STEM

interest• Real World Contexts• Scaffolded Learning• Mission Achievements• Promotes iterative design by using LEGOs • Driven by Collaboration• Flexible Implementation• Detailed Curriculum Guide• Few Consumables • 53% of Participants have been Female

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UxhmwkFk40&feature=youtu.be

WaterBotics Overview

For More Information:www.waterbotics.org

Mercedes.McKay@stevens.edu