Medical Technology: organ harvesting and Transplants

specially constructed obstacle courses in which their robots
can exercise. Based on what engineers observe and learn,
they can then improve and modify robot designs, reducing
the risks of using the machines in possibly hazardous areas.
Students should wrap up this phase of activity with their
prototype robot with a written discussion of the good and
bad aspects of their little machine—an objective assessment
of its capabilities and potential.
An Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit robot is used to inspect a
suspicious package during a force protection/anti-terrorism training
exercise in Japan.
making a list of things they should think about assessing
concerning the vehicle’s capability:
• Payload-carrying capacity
• Maximum operating distance via radio
• Attaching working appurtenances like:
• A small arm
• Lights
• Video camera
• Sensors
• Gripper or end effector
• Microphone
• Ability to send information to and from appurtenances
• Battery operating time
• Climbing over obstacles without tipping
• Cleaning of vehicle if it becomes contaminated
• Retrieving vehicle if it becomes disabled
In the classroom or outside on the school grounds, student
teams can try some experiments such as:
• Loading the vehicle with known weights to assess its
performance
• Maneuverability under a variety of conditions and road
surfaces
• Resistance to tipping over when various obstacles are
encountered
• Response to commands at long distances or when the
radio signal is partially blocked
• Timing of useful operational work time with a fresh
battery pack
These activities mimic what engineers do on the job . . .
assessing the potential performance capability of robots
under a variety of conditions the machines may encounter
in real-world applications. Some robot designers use
Adapting the Little Machine
Now students are to return to their researched information
about how mobile robots are applied in industry and
identify a task they believe their robot can perform. They
must take the time to carefully describe and understand
that task—and evaluate it against what they know their
robot can do . . . or be realistically adapted to do.
This is absolutely crucial in the world of mobile robots.
If there is a place a robot application is going to fail, it
is where engineers did not fully understand the task at
hand compared to the capability of a robot’s design. Robot
engineers do not buy a robot first and force it to fit the
application. They take a great deal of time to understand
what the task entails and then match a robot’s capability as
closely as possible to that operating environment.
Students are allowed to contact robot manufacturers and
designers to learn more about robot design. There may
be a company near you that can send a representative to
the school to speak to your students. There may also be
a company that has used such mobile machines and can
discuss their experience and expectations for such robots.
Many colleges now offer courses in robotic design and
Robot designs can be mocked-up on an actual radio-controlled car
if time and resources permit.
12 • The Technology Teacher • April 2010