Challenge your class to use their understanding of the engineering design process to design and build a small-scale, off-road prototype for an assistive technology device. Teams select materials to build their scale models, and, using simulated off-road surfaces, test the models and determine the amount of force required to pull the prototype. 

Concepts

mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, engineering design, design, elements of design, technology resources

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Instructional Ideas

• Have a student or person with physical disabilities share with the class the daily obstacles they face being in a wheelchair 

Classroom Considerations

• The class should be familiar with the engineering design process and its cyclical nature
• Create the simulated surfaces prior to the teams building their model prototypes
• The second challenge in a series of four

Pros

• The timeline suggests the sequence and timing of activity segments
• The Additional Multimedia Support and References sections provide resources for teams to use during the research stage

Cons

• None

Common Core

6.SP.B.4 6.SP.B.5.a MP4