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LESSON 05

LEARNING ABOUT MECHANISMS & SYSTEMS LESSON 5 STARTER Learning objective: Examine and test HEXBUG’s to identify and communicate how they work mechanically. Create small models which imitate and replicate how HEXBUG’s move. Know a range of different types of motion. LEARNING ABOUT MECHANISMS & SYSTEMS Movement can be different? Hexbugs need to move around, otherwise they would be pretty boring toys. But did you realise that they produce different forms of motion that relate to different applications and conversions of movement, from the same tiny motor? Look at these HEXBUG’s, can you explain how their legs work?

Motion Moving Robots There are lots of different types of movement. When engineers talk about movement they use the term motion. Motion can talk different forms, depending on what is being created. Task 1: What are the different motions? Can you describe these before you see the definition? ROTARY is turning round in a circle, such as a wheel turning LINEAR is moving in a straight line, such as on a paper trimmer. OSCILLATING is swinging from side to side, like a pendulum in a clock. RECIPROCATING is moving backwards and forwards in a straight line, as in cutting with a saw. New words: rotary, linear, oscillating, reciprocating.

Motion Moving Robots Each Hexbug uses one or more different types of motion to create an insect like creature. When this is linked to the sensing capabilities, it creates a realistic product. Watch the video and think… is it: ROTARY LINEAR OSCILLATING RECIPROCATING

Motion Draw and Annotate Motion Your are now going to analyse your Hexbugs to identify what types of motion each uses to get around. Task 2: Draw each of your Hexbugs on a sheet, in a 2D view (looking a the side of the bug only). Your worksheet has an example already done for you for the original. Task 3: Once you have drawn these in detail, your task is to use a large bright pen to annotate the direction of motion you can see. When you have done this, right next to each the name (s) of the motion you can see. New words: annotate, motion

Motion Task 4 Make a moving 2D Hexbug model. In pairs, your task is to use split pins to create a moving 2D Hexbug. To do this well, you need to be accurate, and use your drawing as a plan. Features that make a Hexbug 2D model move: - neat holes (use a hole punch) - accurate pars well cut out - if parts are meant to be the same, they are - split pins are fitted slightly loose When you finish, test your Hexbug model, fix any issues, before adding colour. You will use split pins to create the “pivot points” New words: split pin

Motion Tweet your Hexbug Using Twitter is a great way to share ideas and models you have made with the world. Hexbug have their own Twitter account from which you can get daily interesting facts about insects and Hexbug products. Using @Hexbuguk in a tweet will mean that everyone interested in Hexbugs, including the company that makes them, will see what fantastic ideas you have created and are sharing with the world! New words: Twitter, Tweet

LESSON 5 PLENARY As a class, let us consider the following questions? A. What different types of motion are there? B. What do all types of motion rely on? C. What type of motion might a flying insect need? D. Why do we make 2D models instead of 3D models to test and prove ideas?

Summary Today you have: Learning objective: Examine and test HEXBUG’s to identify and communicate how they work mechanically. Create small models which imitate and replicate how HEXBUG’s move. Know a range of different types of motion. Today you have: Examined and tested HEXBUG’s to identify and communicate how they work mechanically Created small models which imitate and replicate how HEXBUG’s move Learnt new key words about Hexbugs and motion