You have always wanted an extra hand! What
will it do for you? By selecting the Advanced Hydraulic Arm you continue to
understand and apply the core concepts of fluid hydraulics and simple
machines. The Advanced Arm comes with parts to create a rotating
base and broaden your design possibilities. You have much more flexibility in
deciding what task your arm will perform. For example, do you need to change the
range of motion or fulcrum point? The arm pivots at three points and
the gripper opens and closes. This is an Easy Engineering activity, making
design, construction and revision simple. With additional innovative parts you
can reengineer grippers or prepare for a new function, etc. Please refer to
the Advanced Hydraulic Arm Activity document..
Possible Engineering
Challenges
Design and draw the arm in CAD, then build it.
Design and build an arm that rotates at the base.
Design and build a better end effecter (gripper).
Design and build an arm to move the most weight the
furthest distance.
Design and prototype retail packaging for the arm.
Design and build a practical mechanism/method to measure
the weight of the object the arm is lifting.
Design and prototype a new component for the Easy
Engineering System. Demonstrate its function on a hydraulic arm.
Design a hydraulic arm to move as many beans from a
common tray into the team's tray as possible. Two or three arms can compete at
once in this competition.
Design a hydraulic arm to work in an assembly line with
other arms. Parts can move in front of the arms by pulling a "belt."
Innovation Components
Innovation components allow for greater alternative and
innovative designs. They are not required, but are suggested to bring more
engineering and innovation to the activity. Only a few innovation components are
usually needed to create alternative designs, so your supply of innovation
components can be used for many hydraulic arms and other TeacherGeek activities.
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