STE M - Technolo g y

1. STEM-Technology

2. A Trundle Wheel is a device used to measure distances and helps scientists and engineers gather data to make calculations.

3. Discover new hands-on builds and programming opportunities to further your understanding of a subjectmatter.

4. TheCompletedLookoftheBuild Completed TrundleWheel The Trundle Wheel is used to calculate distances. Attach a yard or meter stick into the slot of the build to roll the wheels across a surface.

5. Build Instructions

11. Exploration • Now that you've finished the build, return to the first page to read about what the Trundle Wheel is used for. Explore your build and then answer these questions in your engineering notebook. • Besides scientists and engineers, what other types of professions might use this piece of technology? • How might this tool benefit its user? • Name something you would measure using thistechnology.

12. Test your build, observe how it functions, and fuel your logic and reasoning skills through imaginative, creativeplay.

13. What is STEM? STEM and the includedprocesses • What is STEM? • STEM is the combination of science, technology, engineering, and math. The concept of STEM promotes the integration of all four skills to foster the growth of a better skill set and promote more comprehensivesolutions. • Take a look at what each skill of STEM consists ofbelow: • Science is studying specific areas of our natural world by inquiring, observing, and experimenting and by applying these understandings using a systematicprocess. • Technology is the techniques, skills, tools, and methods created through science used to solve a problem or create aproduct. • Engineering is the application of math, science, and technology through a process to invent, innovate, design, and build products andsolutions. • Math is the study of numbers, data, equations, geometric shapes, logic and their relationships that help craft and verifysolutions.

14. TechnologyinSTEM People using multiple forms oftechnology Technology in STEM Technology is the techniques, skills, tools, and methods created through science used to solve a problem or create a product. Technology, alongside the other fields of STEM, can be found in nearly every area of our lives. In most cases, it makes tasks in our lives more efficient and easier. For example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) is a piece technology that not only tells us how to travel to where we need to go, it also calculates how long it may take. Before having GPS, we had to use maps to plan out our travel routes ahead oftime. There was nothing to inform us if we had made an incorrect turn, or if we should take a different road due to traffic. What tasks in your life would be more difficult without technology?

15. What is a Trundle Wheel? TrundleWheel What is a TrundleWheel? The Trundle Wheel is a device that connects to STEM. Scientists and engineers use it to collect data, perform calculations, and generate solutions. Even the Trundle Wheel itself is a technological tool that is used to solveproblems. Imagine if you had to use a meter stick to measure the distance from your classroom to the cafeteria, gymnasium, or any long distance. This would be very difficult and time consuming. However, if we could bend a meter stick into a circle or wheel, each time the wheel makes one revolution we would complete one meter of travel. This also would get rid of markingthe

16. end and beginning of the next measurement. A Trundle Wheel is a device that offers a solution which makes measuring long distanceseasier. Usually, a Trundle Wheel has a circumference of 1 meter, which means one revolution of the wheel will equal 1 meter of travel. Many Trundle Wheels have an indicator or deliver a clicking noise when one revolution is complete that lets the user continuously count a distance.

17. AddTechnologytotheTrundle Wheel

21. Track theDistance 1. Plug in the SmartMotor Connect the Smart Motor into port 1 of the Robot Brain using a 300mm SmartCable.

22. 2. Powering on your RobotBrain A powered off Robot Brainscreen Press the check mark button to power on your RobotBrain. 3. Opening the Settingsmenu The top-level Settingsmenu Press the X button until you arrive at the Settingsmenu.

23. 4. Opening the Device Infomenu The Device Infooption Use the arrow buttons to navigate down to the 'Device Info' selection on the Settings menu and press the check markbutton. 5. Viewing a Connected SmartDevice The Device Menu for Port 1 with a Smart Motorconnected

24. You can use the up and down arrows to navigate through the Smart Devices that you have connected. 6. Testing the TrundleWheel The Device Menu for Port 1 with a Smart Motorconnected Push the Trundle Wheel build forward and backward while keeping an eye on the Turns data on your Robot Brain. Does the number increase or decrease when pushing the Trundle Wheel build forward? Push the Trundle Wheel build forward until it clicks once. How many Turns is the Robot Brain reporting for eachclick?

25. Become a 21st century problem solver by applying the core skills and concepts you learned to other problems.

26. STEM Career Growth Graph displaying projected STEM jobgrowth • STEM CareerGrowth • From the US Department ofCommerce: • In 2015, about 6% of all workers were in STEM occupations, a 5% increase from 2010. At the time, 6% was about 9.0 million STEM workers in the UnitedStates. • Employment in STEM occupations (24%) grew much faster than employment in non- STEM occupations (4%) over the last decade. STEM occupations are expected to grow by 8% from 2014 to 2024, compared to 6% growth for non- STEMoccupations. • STEM workers receive higher wages, earning 29% more than non-STEM workers in 2015. • Nearly 75% of STEM workers have at least a college degree, compared to 33% of non- STEMworkers.

27. Someone working in STEM can expect to earn a salary that is 12% higher than someone working outside ofSTEM.

28. Is there a more efficient way to come to the same conclusion? Take what you’ve learned and try to improveit.

29. ImproveandTinkerwithYour Build • Answer the following questions in your engineering notebook as you tinker with thebuild. • What other sensors or motors could you add to the Trundle Wheel to make it better or give it more features? Explain at least one change and how it would improve the Trundle Wheel as a tool and instrument of measurement. • What steps will you follow to change the build and mount the sensors/motors? Explain with details and/orsketches. • How do these additions to the Trundle Wheel make the new design more marketable to someone who would use this in the real world? How does this improve the user experience? Create a mock flier that could be used to advertise the improved Trundle Wheel.

30. Understand the core concepts and how to apply them to differentsituations. This review process will fuel motivation tolearn.

31. Review • GPS standsfor... • Geometric PositioningSoftware • Global Performance Science • Gravity Precision Scope • Global Positioning System • What do you track on the RobotBrain? • Rotation • Degrees • Toggle • Turns • Using the data from the Robot Brain is the only way to getmeasurements. • False • True

32. Additional information, resources, andmaterials.

33. RemovingConnectorsfrom Beams and Plates Using a pitch shaft to remove a cornerconnector How to Easily RemoveConnectors You can easily remove corner connectors from beams or plates by placing a metal shaft through one of the holes of the corner connector and pulling outward while holding down the beam orplate.

34. RemovingPinsfromVEXIQ Beams and Plates Removing a pin from a plate assembly using abeam How to Easily Remove Pins from Beams andPlates You can quickly remove connector pins from beams or plates by pressing a beam against the back of the pin, which partially pushes the pin out, so you can remove it with your fingers. You can use this technique to more easily remove pins from individual plates and beams, or from builtstructures.

35. RemovingPinsfromVEXIQ Electronics Removing a 1x1 Connector Pin from a SmartMotor How to Remove Pins that are Stuck in Electronic Components Connector pins can be removed more easily from Smart Motors, sensors, or Robot Brains by using a 1x1 Beam. Push the beam onto the pin and then twist the beam while pulling outward to remove the pin.

36. SupportingShaftsusingRubber Shaft Collars SupportedShaft Rubber ShaftCollar Added toShaft UnsupportedShaft Supporting a shaft with a Rubber ShaftCollar How to Support Shafts with Rubber ShaftCollars Shafts can fall out of place or alignment very easily if they aren't supported properly. You can make a shaft more secure and prevent it from falling out of place by putting a Rubber Shaft Collar before the end of it. You can then connect the shaft to a support structure with the shaft collar positioned against it. That will allow the shaft to turn but will prevent it from wobbling or fallingout.

37. SupportingShaftsusingShaft Bushings UnsupportedShaft Shaft Bushing Addedto Shaft SupportedShaft Supporting a shaft with a ShaftBushing How to Support Shafts Using Shaft Bushings Shafts can fall out of place or alignment very easily if they aren't supported properly. You can make a shaft more secure and prevent it from falling out of place by putting a bushing at the end of it. You can then connect that bushing into another beam or additional part. That will allow the shaft to turn but will prevent it from wobbling or fallingout.