In this section, you'll discover information on everything from drones and smart cars to Wikileaks, fake news, crowdfunding, and facial recognition technology.

Lessons include: (1) Understanding Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. Learn the difference between virtual and augmented reality. (2) What is a Drone?. Learn how drones work and what they're used for. (3) What are Self-Driving Cars?. Learn more about the roles self-driving cars play in today's society and in the future. (4) What is 3D Printing?. Learn more about how 3D printers work and what they're used for. (5) What are Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)?. Learn more about genetically modified organisms, or GMOS, as well as the controversy surrounding them. (6) What is Machine Learning?. Discover how machine learning works. (7) Understanding Facial Recognition. Learn more about facial recognition technology and how it's used in everyday life. (8) How Will Automation Impact Our Lives?. Learn more about the role automation plays in our daily lives. (9) What is Lab-Grown Meat?. Learn more about the invention, rise, and potential risks of lab-grown meat. (10) Could Science Really Extend The Human Lifespan?. Learn about the research and realities of life extension. (11) How CRISPR Could Change The World. Learn about the world-changing potential of the gene editing tool CRISPR in this free lesson.

Students act as civil engineers developing safe railways as a way to strengthen their understanding of parallel and intersecting lines. Using pieces of yarn to visually represent line segments, students lay down "train tracks" on a carpeted floor, and make guesses as to whether these segments are arranged in parallel or non-parallel fashion. Students then test their tracks by running two LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT robots to observe the consequences of their track designs, and make safety improvements. Robots on intersecting courses face imminent collision, while robots on parallel courses travel safely.

In this video segment from Cyberchase, the CyberSquad breaks down an action into a series of steps in order to program a robot to do what they need it to do. [4:50]

Students learn about the concept of pushing, as well as the relationship between force and mass. Students practice measurement skills using pan scales and rulers to make predictions about mass and distance. A LEGO MINDSTORMS(TM) NXT robot is used to test their hypotheses. By the end of the activity, students have a better understanding of robotics, mass and friction and the concept of predicting.

This lesson will start with a brief history of robotics and explain how robots are beneficial to science and society. The lesson then will explore how robots have been used in recent space exploration efforts. The engineering design of the two Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, will be used as prime examples. Finally, the maneuverability of their robotic arms and the functionality of their tools will be discussed.

In this video segment adapted from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a team from the Mechanical Engineering Department studies snail movement for inspiration that may lead to new forms of robotic locomotion.

Featuring slow-motion footage of insects in flight, this video adapted from NOVA explores the engineering challenge of designing a robotic aerial vehicle that flies like a bug.

NOVA follows two teams as they push their engineering design skills to the limit to develop systems that allow cars to drive themselves. [5:52]

Students solidify their understanding of the terms "circumference" and "rotation" through the use of LEGO MINDSTORMS(TM) NXT robotics components. They measure the circumference of robot wheels to determine how far the robot can travel during one rotation of an NXT motor. They sharpen their metric system measurement skills by precisely recording the length of a wheel's circumference in centimeters, as well as fractions of centimeters. Through this activity, students practice brainstorming ways to solve a problem when presented with a given scenario, improve their ability to measure and record lengths to different degrees of precision, and become familiar with common geometric terms (such as perimeter and rotation).

Erik is a robotics engineer who works with mechanical, electrical and computer engineers to build robots. Students will learn how robotics engineering requires constant experimenting before things work out just right. Engineering Your Future shares real stories from young professionals who want to inform and inspire students about in-demand engineering careers.

This list is a collection of instructional materials to help educators access resources supporting robotics in the curriculum. Each item included in the collection is premium content licensed or purchased by INFOhio or an open access item that has been reviewed by educational professionals. Educators should review all materials before sharing with students.

Students learn about humankind’s search for life in outer space and how it connects to robotics and engineering. NASA is interested in sending exploratory missions to one of Jupiter’s moons, Europa, which requires a lot of preparatory research and development on Earth before it can happen. One robot currently being engineered as a proof of concept for a possible trip to explore Europa is the Icefin, which is an innovative robot that can explore under ice and in water, which are the believed conditions on Europa. This lesson provides students with intriguing information about far off (distance and time!) space missions and field robotics, and also sets up two associated robotics and arts integration activities to follow. The lesson can be used individually to provide new information to students, or as a precursor to the associated activities. A PowerPoint® presentation and worksheet are provided.

This content package is a curated collection of STEM instructional resources to support the introduction and exploration of programming and robotics in grades 3-5. Resources include lesson plans, engagement activities, ebooks, digital texts, and videos.

Students develop an understanding of the concepts of "push" and "pull" as they "save" stuffed animals from danger using LEGO MINDSTORMS(TM) NXT robots. After learning more about the concepts through a robot demonstration, students explore the concepts themselves in the context of saving stuffed animala from the table edges. They choose to either push or pull the animal to safety, depending on the orientation of the robot and toy. They see the consequences of their choices, learning the importance of understanding these force concepts and the differences between them.

Learn how to build a simple robotic arm that can pick almost anything up. Aired Jul. 19, 2013. [2:36]

This DragonflyTV segment introduces NASA roboticist Dr. Ayanna Howard. Her job is to use artificial intelligence (AI) to build robots that can travel into space and other hazardous locations. In this segment, she discusses her work on a rover for use on Mars. Also available in Spanish. [2:07]

A lot of robots in Star Wars are "junk droids", robots made from salvaged and assorted parts. With a few simple electronic parts (e.g. a motor and AA batteries), kids can build their own junkbots using parts from the recycling or craft supplies bin.

Students generally do not know the complexity that goes into building and programming a robotic arm. In actuality, creating such an arm comes from a design that involves mechanical, electrical, and computer science engineers. This activity allows students to control a robotic arm from both a machine's and a computer science engineer's perspective by letting them perform a simple task with a few entertaining instructions and constraints.

Students learn basic concepts of robotic logic and programming by working with Boe-Bot robots—a simple programmable robotic platform designed to illustrate basic robotic concepts. Under the guidance of the instructor and a provided lab manual, student groups build simple circuits and write codes to make their robots perform a variety of tasks, including obstacle and light detection, line following and other motion routines. Eight sub-activities focus on different sensors, including physical sensors, phototransistors and infrared headlights. Students test their newly acquired skills in the final activity, in which they program their robots to navigate an obstacle course.