I bet you didnt know What small magnetic
I bet you didn’t know… What small magnetic robots can do Teacher Guide Curriculum Areas Magnetic forces Friction Irreversible change Ages 5 -11 © Image from Kim et al. , Sci. Robot. 4, eaax 7329 (2019). Reprinted with permission from AAAS. This figure may be used for classroom purposes only. Permission must be obtained from AAAS for any other purpose.
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Who were the scientists? Yoonho Kim 1, German A. Parada 1, 2, Shengduo Liu 1, Xuanhe Zhao 1, 3 1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. 2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. 3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. Ferromagnetic soft continuum robots. Science Robotics 4, eaax 7329 (2019) All these scientists worked at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but in different engineering departments. Can you explain these different types of engineering?
What did the scientists know? Snake-arm robots (continuum robots) have arms that can bend and twist using wires and springs, or remotely controlled magnets. They are used for reaching into difficult or dangerous spaces such as for bomb disposal, and for search and rescue. Soft-bodied robots, like Octobot, move when gas flows through chambers inside the robot and inflates the robot’s arms. These are being developed for oceanic search and rescue, and climate sensing. Small-scale robots (< 1 mm) are difficult to make. Doctors sometimes need to access sites inside the body such as blood vessels around the heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord. An elephant trunk robotic arm which is operated by a system of guide wires and springs.
What did the scientists do? Scientists made tiny soft robots (diameter < 1 mm) which can travel through small blood vessels. The tip of the robot contains tiny magnetic particles and the whole robot is covered in a hydrogel skin. The robot moves when a magnetic field is switched on. © Image from Kim et al. , Sci. Robot. 4, eaax 7329 (2019). Reprinted with permission from AAAS. This figure may be used for classroom purposes only. Permission must be obtained from AAAS for any other purpose. They carried out some comparative tests to answer these questions: 1. How can we reduce friction when the robot moves inside a blood vessel? 2. Do the magnetic particles survive in a wet place? They tested the movement of the robot: 1. through a series of rings; 2. through some tubes; 3. through tubes filed with ‘pretend’ blood (called a ‘vascular phantom’).
The structure of the magnetic robot. © Image from Kim et al. , Sci. Robot. 4, eaax 7329 (2019). Reprinted with permission from AAAS. This figure may be used for classroom purposes only. Permission must be obtained from AAAS for any other purpose.
What did the scientists find out? How can we reduce friction when the robot moves inside a blood vessel? Treatment of object Pulling force on an object in the phantom blood vessel Without a hydrogel skin 2. 65 N With a hydrogel skin 0. 18 N What do you think the scientists concluded? Do the magnetic particles survive in a wet place? Treatment of magnetic particles Change observed in weak acid solution Silica-coated particles No change Uncoated particles Change observed What do you think the scientists concluded?
Quick activity Can you control (move) an object with a magnet? Resources path/road drawn on a piece of cardboard, small image of car/animal (with paperclip attached to underside), magnet
Longer investigation 1 (ages 4 -7) Which materials would be best for a magnetic robot? The scientists made their robots from a metal called iron. Iron metal is magnetic but not all materials are magnetic. Can you identify and sort magnetic and non-magnetic objects? Resources Magnets*, a selection of magnetic/non-magnetic objects
What did you find out? (ages 4 -7) Which materials are magnetic? Can you explain why? Why are some UK / foreign coins magnetic?
Longer investigation 2 (ages 7 -11) Can you guide a magnetic ‘robot’ through rings or tubes? The scientists tested the movement of the robot through a series of rings and then through some tubes. Try it! Resources Paperclips/split pins (robot), magnet, cardboard (base), pipe cleaners, plastic/cardboard tubes
Longer investigation 3 (ages 7 -11) Can you demonstrate that different surfaces create different amounts of friction on a moving object? The scientists showed that the hydrogel skin on the robot reduced the friction on the moving robot. You can investigate how friction varies using equipment like this: Resources Force meters, string, objects to pull across surfaces (e. g. jam jar lids, toy cars, shoes), access to different surfaces (e. g. carpet, tiles, wooden/plastic table, concrete).
Longer investigation 4 (ages 7 -11) What material would you make your robot from? Remember your robot must be: 1. Magnetic 2. Not rust (corrode) in a wet environment Resources A permanent magnet (typical school bar magnet), nails of different materials (iron, copper, steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel), beaker/jars containing water, salt water, white vinegar.
What did you find out? (ages 7 -11) How easy is it to guide a magnetic object around a twisting path? How does the thickness of the card/the surface affect control over the magnetic object? What type of surfaces produce the greatest friction ? Which metals can be magnetised? Which metals will survive in a wet environment? Which material would you use to make a magnetic robot?
Questions for further learning Can you make a robot that has moving parts? Children could create jointed limbs using paper ‘ligaments’, split pins or use pneumatic systems. What are robots used for? Children could find out about different types of robot and what they are developed to do. Which is the strongest magnet? Compare different types and sizes of magnets. How can magnets be switched on and off? * Children could research the uses of electromagnets and create electromagnets using insulated copper wire, nail and a battery.
Maths links Area of learning Activity Measuring & reading a scale Investigating friction using force meters
Writing links Area of learning Activity Instructions How to find out whether a material is magnetic. How to make a magnet. Narrative Children could write about a future where robots help in the home or play with children. Newspaper report Write an article explaining the advantages (or disadvantages) of having robots in the world. Diary Children could imagine that they are a robot and write ‘A day in the life of …’
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