“Information Sheet”

SELF-REPLICATING MACHINE (SRM) SPACE PROBE

PART I: INTRODUCTION

For this project consider yourselves the design engineers for a special project with NASA. Your assignment is to design a space probe to send to a newly discovered planet that can colonize it with self-replicating machines (SRMs). The SRMs will then send valuable information about the planet back to Earth to help us learn more about this yet to be explored planet.

In this science fiction scenario, the planet is similar to Earth in size, atmosphere, amount of water, and plant life, micro-organisms, but it is uninhabited by animals and humans. Your probe will be required to obtain raw materials so it can maintain itself and replicate itself. Remember your probe will need to be pre-programmed to survive on its own without the intervention of humans back on Earth. Therefore, it will be equipped with your finished “design plans” and know how to interpret and carry out the instructions for making more SRMs to colonize this mystery planet.

You will make Design Plans for your SRM Space Probe, with a TITLE BOX and FOUR SECTIONS for detailed drawings and descriptions. Keep the following in mind:

(a) Drawings can be pencil drawings or color pencil drawings. I discourage the use of markers.

(b)  You will need to include your answers to a series of questions for each SECTION (see attached questions for each SECTION.

(c)  Labels may be typed then cut out and pasted onto your drawings, or use pen or pencil and very neat handwriting.

The detailed information needed for each part of your Design Plans is as follows:

TITLE BOX: It can be located anywhere on the front of your paper and shall include the following:

“Self Replicating Machine Space Probe”

design plans

by

First and Last Name and lab partners First and Last name

Period number

Teacher’s Name, VMS Science 7 Class

SECTION 1-Titled “Energy Capture & Storage”: Choose from the following to draw:

1.  Solar panel captures energy from a light source and is stored in a battery

2.  Windmill turns a generator that generates electricity and is stored in a battery.

3.  Water wheel turns a generator that generates electricity that is stored in a battery.

4.  Organic material is consumed and stored as an “energy tissue”.

5.  Natural gas is consumed and converted to mechanical energy that generates electricity and is stored in a battery.

6.  Solar energy is captured and used to make compounds that are stored as an “energy tissue”.

Once energy is stored in a battery or as an “energy tissue” it can be used to power motors or micro-machines for movement, repairs, and new construction.

Mechanical Energy is ultimately the form of energy you want because it is the “energy of movement”. Draw how your SRM will transfer energy from a battery or “energy tissue” to a motor and bring about movement (choose from the following examples:

1.  Motors receive energy through wires from the battery to move arms, legs and wheels.

2.  Microscopic energy packets are sprayed out from the battery or “energy tissue”. These energy packets energize trillions of microscopic motors that enable the SRM to move, repair, and construct new SRM parts.

SECTION 2-Titled “Materials Gathering”:

Indicate whether your SRM is a “Passive Gatherer” or an “Active Gatherer” then draw a picture of your SRM gathering raw materials. Read the following and indicate which of the two your SRM will be:

1.  Passive Gatherer: Living things that are passive gatherers do not move much in fact many of them are anchored to the ground and their only movement is to bend in one direction or another to help them gather more energy or materials. Examples of these are plants, corals, sea sponges, and mussels. Other passive gatherers float freely in water or air and wait to drift to a place where they can gather materials and energy (for example: plants, sea sponges, plankton, bacteria, and other micro-organisms).

2.  Active Gatherer: These living things move around looking and seeking after sources of energy and materials for itself (some living examples are as follows: coyotes, lions, birds, bats, sharks and fish).

SECTION 3-Titled “Design Instructions Handling”: In this section make drawings to show how your SRM will handle and store the “Design Instructions” (these are the instructions for making another SRM), and how it will pass the instructions onto the new SRM?

SECTION 4-Titled “New SRM Construction”: In this section make drawings, and label the equipment that your SRM will need to assemble and shape the raw materials into new parts for the new SRMs. Also, show how it puts the parts in the right place.

SRM Model

PART II: You are required to construct a “Model” of your SRM probe using recyclable materials. This part is to be accomplished entirely at home by EACH INDIVIDUAL and delivered to school no later than . The following are considered recyclable materials:

·  Paper (newspaper, white paper, colored paper, magazines)

·  Cardboard (corrugated cardboard, shoe boxes, cereal/cracker boxes, other food boxes not heavily waxed)

·  Aluminum/tin cans

·  Plastic (beverage/food containers)

·  Aluminum foil

·  I will also allow use of paints if you wish to add color, tape, and glue to hold things together, and some small amount of wood.

No glass, please! I will also allow use of paints Also, keep in mind as you draw your probe what materials you will use to make your model. The SRM space probe must not exceed dimensions of 2 feet high and 2 feet wide, and it must be at least 3 inches high by 3 inches wide. It must have a name plate with the following information:

Self Replicating Machine Space Probe

First and Last Name

Period #

Teacher’s Name VMS Science 7 Class

GRADING: This model is worth __ __ points and your grade will be based on the following:

1.  points – For proper name plate.

2.  points – For creativity and attention to details in following design plans.

3.  points – For use of recyclable materials.

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