Assessment 2 Lesson 4

ASSESSMENT LESSON 4

Object Interaction: First Mechanism Build 🦾

Today you start building the mechanism that helps your rover interact with target objects.

It does not need to work perfectly yet. It needs to be real enough to test, notice problems, and improve.

Today’s goal

Build or prototype an object-interaction mechanism and test at least one object action.

Before you leave

Complete Engineering Entry 4 with your mechanism idea, one test or checkpoint, and evidence.

Object interaction means all five actions

Your final rover must be able to collect, push, lift, carry and transport target objects. Today, start with one or two actions and learn from the result.

Collect
Get control of the object.

Push
Move the object by pushing it.

Lift
Raise the object from the surface.

Carry
Hold or support the object while moving.

Transport
Move the object to another location.

Minimum portfolio pages to complete today

Your folder should now begin showing how the object mechanism is developing.

Starter Pack page	Minimum work for today
Engineering entry tracker	Add Entry 4 when it is completed and signed off.
Prescribed criteria	Improve the Object interaction row: what the rover needs to do and how you could test it.
Initial design sketches	Update sketches to show the object mechanism. Label moving parts and where the target object goes.
Initial design explanation	Add how the mechanism is intended to collect, push, lift, carry or transport objects.

Build sequence

Choose the first object action you will test.
Build a simple mechanism: claw, scoop, pusher, fork, lift, carrier, platform or another suitable idea.
Attach it securely to the rover base.
Test one object action.
Record what worked, what failed, and what needs changing.

Extension ideas if your group is ahead

Choose an extension that suits your own design. Do not copy another group’s solution. Record what you tried, why you tried it, and what happened.

Test two different mechanism ideas and compare which one controls the object more reliably.
Try to make one mechanism complete more than one action, such as collect and carry, or lift and transport.
Improve how easily the mechanism can be repaired or adjusted between tests.
Add a labelled mechanism diagram showing how force moves from the motor or hand-controlled part to the object.

Engineering Entry 4: what a detailed entry needs

Use the entry sheet properly. Your entry should tell the story of what happened this lesson, not just list tasks.

Entry section	What to include today
What I/we did today	Write what object mechanism you built or prototyped. Name the mechanism and the object action you tested.
Problem, test or checkpoint	Choose one important problem, test, decision or checkpoint from the lesson.
What I noticed and thought	Explain what you observed and what you think caused the result or problem.
What changed or was fixed	Describe the change you made, or explain what needs to change next if it is not fixed yet.
Result and next step	Record what happened after the change or test, then write the next sensible action.
Evidence space	Add a labelled sketch, labelled diagram, measurement, test result, code note, observation or photo reference.

Helpful sentence starter: “Today we built a mechanism to... We tested... We noticed... The next change should be...”

Before you leave: ask for teacher feedback/sign-off, then put the entry sheet in your clear plastic folder.

Year 9 Digital Technologies • Assessment Lesson 4 • VEX IQ Gen 2 Rover