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Mission: Solar System
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Hands-on
Challenges -
Soft Landing
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Robo Arm
Robo Arm
Design and build a robotic arm that can lift a cup off a table.
Robotic arms are cool, useful, and fun to make. In this video, kids design and build controllable mechanical arms and use their "robo" arms to lift objects and to play a series of games. The video shows kids using the engineering design process, applying a variety of science concepts (e.g., levers and tension and compression), and learning how NASA uses robotic arms in many of its missions.
Downloads
Related Activity

Robo Arm
Want to do this challenge with kids? Download the leader notes and handout.
Download (PDF)
Related NASA Video

Curiosity's Robotic Arm
See NASA's Curiosity rover use its robotic arm to probe the Martian surface.
Download video (3.2 MB)
Watch now on NASA
Related Engineer Video

Sandeep Yayathi
NASA robotics engineer Sandeep Yayathi explains how he designs and builds humanoid robots that can work alongside astronauts. Watch now
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Download Exploring the Solar System poster (PDF).
Print it at a copy shop.