I, Robot. Safety Concerns: Scissors. Discuss safe and proper use of scissors.

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Avice McDaniel
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1 I, Robot Materials Large piece of paper for poster Glue Scissors Safety Concerns: Scissors. Discuss safe and proper use of scissors. Procedure Part One What is a Robot? 1. Get your sheet of paper and make a poster answering the question What is a robot? On the poster, write your definition of a robot and draw a picture illustrating your definition. Part Two Robots in Space 1. If you were travelling in space, what features would you like a robot to have? Write a list of these on the worksheet. Part Three Spacecraft Components 1. Review the Spacecraft Components handout and predict what humanlike functions each part of the spacecraft performs. 2. Cut out the components of the spacecraft. Put them together in a form that would resemble a spacecraft. Write the humanlike function of each component. Part Four Labeling the Spacecraft 1. Look at the diagram of the Cassini spacecraft. Using the Cassini Component Functions Table, label Cassini s components.

2 Name I, Robot Space Robot Features If I had a space robot, I would want the robot to have the following traits: Questions for Reflection (Note an answer of a couple of words or one short sentence will not be acceptable.) 1. How is a spacecraft a robot? 2. If you designed a robot, what questions would you want your robot to answer? 3. What would you hope to discover with your robot?

3 Spacecraft Components

4 Cassini Component Functions Table for Student Use L E S S O N 5 Figure 3 Use the descriptions in the column labeled Function to determine a possible human analogy for each Cassini component. Write your human part(s) or human need(s) in the blank column at the right. Cassini Component Function Human Analogy Spacecraft bus Orientation thrusters Main engines RTGs Spacecraft cameras RPWS Cosmic dust analyzer Magnetometer boom High/low gain antennas Computers Huygens probe The bus is the core structure (or framework) to which spacecraft components are attached. This is made out of aluminum, the same metal used in soft-drink cans. These are small rocket thrusters (not the main engines) that are used for delicate maneuvers that rotate the spacecraft. This is useful for aiming instruments and pointing the antennae toward Earth. Rocket motors provide thrust for moving the spacecraft in a particular direction or for braking maneuvers. Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) are the source of energy for Cassini s instruments and transmitters. RTGs convert nuclear energy to electrical energy. RTGs are not used for propulsion. Cameras and other science instruments see radio waves, infrared, visible, and ultraviolet light emitted or reflected by Saturn and its rings and moons. The radio and plasma wave science instrument listens to different aspects of the environment around Cassini. The dust analyzer will sense dust particles that come into direct contact with the instrument. This is an 11-meter-long arm extending from the spacecraft. There are instruments in the middle and on the end of it that are used to detect and measure magnetic fields. Receivers and transmitters are used for communication between the spacecraft and Earth-based controllers. The antennae hear and speak for the spacecraft. Computers manage a variety of intelligent functions such as navigation and propulsion, storing information from scientific instruments, and sending information to Earth. There are over 40 different computers on Cassini. This probe will be released from the mother spacecraft to descend through Titan s atmosphere to gather data on this mysterious moon of Saturn. Saturn Educator Guide Cassini Program website EG JPL 135

Cassini: A Robot In Our Own Image for Student Use L E S S O N 5 Figure 4 COSMIC DUST ANALYZER LOW-GAIN ANTENNA (1 OF 2) AND HIGH-GAIN ANTENNA MAGNETOMETER ON BOOM (11 METERS/ 36.

5 Cassini: A Robot In Our Own Image for Student Use L E S S O N 5 Figure 4 COSMIC DUST ANALYZER LOW-GAIN ANTENNA (1 OF 2) AND HIGH-GAIN ANTENNA MAGNETOMETER ON BOOM (11 METERS/ 36.3 FEET LONG) COMPUTERS CORE STRUCTURE RADIO AND PLASMA WAVE SCIENCE MAGNETOSPHERIC IMAGING INSTRUMENT CAMERAS HUYGENS PROBE POWER SUPPLY (1 OF 3) MAIN ENGINE AND SPARE ORIENTATION THRUSTERS (1 OF 4) Saturn Educator Guide Cassini Program website EG JPL 137

6 Spacecraft Components L E S S O N 5 Figure 1 HIGH- AND LOW-GAIN ANTENNAS CAMERA COMPUTER MAGNETOMETER ON BOOM MAIN CORE STRUCTURE RTG POWER UNIT ATMOSPHERIC PROBE MAIN ENGINE AND SPARE Saturn Educator Guide Cassini Program website EG JPL 131

Background for Lesson Discussion, page 122 Assembling a spacecraft model. Questions, page 127 Some familiarity with the Saturn

Background for Lesson Discussion, page 122 Assembling a spacecraft model. Questions, page 127 Some familiarity with the Saturn 3 4 hrs MEETS NATIONAL SCIENCE EDUCATION STANDARDS: Unifying Concepts and Processes Form and function Science and Technology Abilities of technological design T H E C A S S I N I H U Y G E N S M I S S