Mars Rover Races Activity with Accessibility Options

TL;DR

Students participate in the Rover Races activity to learn about engineering, programming, and communication protocols for controlling Mars rovers.

Transcript

HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS LINDSAY THORNTON, AND I'M AN EDUCATION SPECIALIST HERE AT NASA LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER. TODAY, I'LL BE DEMONSTRATING HOW TO UTILIZE OUR ROVER RACES ACTIVITY. IN THIS ACTIVITY, STUDENTS EXPERIENCE THE PROCESSES INVOLVED IN ENGINEERING A COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL. STUDENTS WILL BECOME THE MODEL ROVER, FOLLOWING COMMUNICATI... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🎓 The Rover Races activity helps students understand the engineering and programming behind controlling Mars rovers.
• 💻 NASA's rovers, like Perseverance and Curiosity, rely on precise computer programming to navigate and accomplish scientific objectives.
• 😀 The activity can be adapted to accommodate students with disabilities, such as using talk-to-text apps, magnifying tablets, or creating accessible paths for wheelchair users.
• 🏛️ Instructors can incorporate additional challenges, such as time delays or involving multiple classes, to enhance the learning experience.
• 🇲🇭 Sequencing the Rover Races activity with other related lessons, like building robotic hands and landing on Mars, can provide a comprehensive understanding of space exploration.
• 🧑‍🎓 NASA resources, such as videos and data analysis tools, can further support students' learning and exploration of Mars missions.
• 🎓 The Rover Races activity promotes inclusivity and accessibility in STEM education, encouraging engagement for all learners.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the purpose of the Rover Races activity?

The activity aims to teach students about communication protocols and engineering design while simulating the challenges faced by NASA in controlling Mars rovers.

Q: What materials are needed for the Rover Races activity?

Each team needs three blindfolds, two clipboards with pencils, a set of worksheets, objects representing rock samples, a stopwatch, and a track/course made of tape with flat obstacles.

Q: How do students navigate the course during the Rover Races activity?

The "rover driver" walks through the course, counting steps and listing turns. The blindfolded "rover students" follow verbal commands from the driver, picking up rock samples as instructed.

Q: How is time calculated in the Rover Races activity?

The timer starts when the educator says "start" and stops when the rover team crosses the finish line. Foot faults and collected rock samples affect the team's time.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Rover Races activity allows students to experience the engineering process involved in communicating with a Mars rover.

• Students work in teams, following communication protocols to guide their "rover" through a course, picking up rock samples along the way.

• The activity emphasizes the importance of precise programming and showcases the challenges faced by NASA in controlling rovers on Mars.