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Mars Rover challenge

“Hello, Houston? We have a problem. It is zero minus one hour and counting, and we have developed a malfunction with our Mars rover vehicle. Can you ship in a replacement soonest?”

Levels of difficulty:
Level 1 - Build a simple model of a Mars rover vehicle
Level 2 - As level 1, with a motor, which will cross the landscape of Mars
Level 3 - As level 2, which will steer round in a circle

Equipment: K’NEX set, plus a battery motor for level 2.

Test area: For level 2, a rough piece of ground, or a floor area with small objects on it, to test the vehicle’s ability to climb over obstacles.

Approach: What shape will your Mars rover be? How many wheels will it have? How will the wheels be fastened to the body?

For level 2, how can you make the motor drive the wheels? Will the rover travel over rough ground like that found on Mars?

For level 3, how can you make the Mars rover steer around in a circle?

Handy Hints (Please click to view):
L1 - 3 ways to connect rods and connectors
L5 - Wheels and tyres
L6 - Making rods turn with wheels or connectors
M2 - Battery motors		Mars Rover challenge
Teachers' Notes

Teachers' Notes

A project to design a working vehicle which is capable of travelling over rough ground, and steering.

Possible solution: See photo.

Before starting: Look at a picture or video of the surface of Mars, and if possible of the real Mars rover vehicle.

Conclusion: Discuss the equipment that a real Mars rover would have to carry in order to perform different experiments on the planet surface.

Copyright © Andy Shercliff 1996 and K'NEX User Group 2004

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