Robotics with Ms Chowfin

This term one of our modules has been Robotics. Our Robotics. The mission was to make a lander to explore the terrain of Mars. At first, we had to research the terrain of Mars. We had to use the information to see how the design of our lander would be affected by the terrain. 

Mars is the fourth planet from the sun and is the last terrestrial planet. Mars is a very rocky and cold planet with fierce dust storms and a thin atmosphere. These factors make life extremely difficult for humankind. The rocky surface makes it hard for vehicles to traverse the surface. These factors make it difficult for our lander to move. We have designed it to withstand solar radiation (Because of the lack of a Magnetosphere) and it can right itself if it falls over. It has thick vulcanized rubber wheels to tackle any terrain and it has a low center of mass so it doesn't blow away in a dust storm. It has solar and Nuclear generators to power it and also has a shovel to move any objects in its way.

To land a lander on Mars we had to use one of the three 'base' Robots. These were the Edison, Ozobot, and Sphero. The Ozobot was fun and easy to use but it was impractical to use on Mars. The Sphero is fun but it can crash very easily because it is very sensitive to movements. At first, the Edison didn't work at all. Then it didn't work again. But for the third time, it finally worked and our group decided to use this as the base of our Mars Buggy.

Next, we made our prototype. It was a card box with windows and a 'trunk' to suck up materials. The mission that we came up with was that our buggy had to mine and find a site for human habitation. This was our first Iteration.

For the next stage, we decided to make our finished product out of Lego. It would be able to clip onto the Edison. after three designs we came up with our final build. We had to have a hypothesis for what we thought our robot would do.

Our Hypothesis:
Our Robot will land on Mars and find water to set up the basis for human civilization. Also, our Robot may mine exotic materials and send them back to earth.

Our final design is huge and is powered by a Nuclear Reactor. It has the original 'Trunk' and a small rocket to send samples back. It has two cameras: one is a small moveable one and the other is a massive one inside the probe. Other features include:

Our Robot's design has a durable square shape because it can survive if it falls over. It can right itself with its shovel.

Our Robot will navigate the terrain with highly sensitive features because Mars is inhospitable. It would be easy for our robot to die so we need these sensors.

Our data capturing tools are drills, shovels, and magnets because our robot is looking for a habitable area for a mining colony. It will be the base for a Martian civilization.


Our Buggy will be maneuvered by a radio control to Star City or Houston. Professionals are the only ones permitted to use it.

In the end, our robotics project went well. Our design is good and durable. Here is a picture. (to scale with a six-foot Astronaut)