Back to Icy Worlds: Robotics and Drones
Icy Worlds – U4, Lesson 1: Human and Machine Communication
In this lesson: Students will explore various aspects of wireless communication including the ways in which NASA communicates with technologies in space. Then, they will connect that knowledge to the technologies used for the ROADS on Icy Worlds Challenge (drone, robot) to observe the ways those systems communicate, including possible limitations.
Lesson Level Question: What are different ways robotic systems communicate, and what are their limitations?
Engage
Students will watch the first 2:35 minutes of the video “How Information Travels Wirelessly” and create a diagram of the room they are in or the area immediately surrounding their drone or robot if the wireless signals were visible to the human eye.
Explore
Students examine common pieces of technology to identify the inputs and outputs.
Explain
Students will read one of the two provided articles, then share ideas with a student who read the other article.
Elaborate
Students should try communicating with a robot or drone connected to their computer, tablet, or phone.
Evaluate
Allow students to identify a piece of technology on a NASA rover analogous to technology on their robot or drone. For example, an ultrasonic sensor on a LEGO EV3 might serve the same purpose as the “eyes” of the Europa Clipper.