Can you engineer a rescue vehicle capable of delivering emergency supplies across challenging terrain?
In this hands-on workshop, students will design and construct their own miniature rescue vehicles using everyday materials such as cardboard, skewers, straws and string. They'll explore how wheels, axles and weight distribution work together to create a vehicle capable of transporting essential supplies across uneven terrain.
As they build and experiment, students will investigate how wheel size, ground clearance and vehicle design affect movement and stability. They'll put their creations to the test on a challenging obstacle course, navigating rough surfaces and obstacles while keeping their emergency supplies secure. Through testing and refinement, they'll discover how engineers overcome real-world transportation challenges.
This workshop combines mechanical engineering, physics and creative problem solving in an engaging experience that demonstrates how engineering can support emergency response and disaster relief.
Learning Outcomes
Mechanical engineering
Understand how wheels, axles and chassis work together to create a functioning vehicle.Forces and motion
Explore how friction, gravity and uneven terrain influence vehicle movement and performance.Problem solving and iteration
Test vehicle performance, identify design weaknesses and make improvements to overcome challenging terrain.Design and creativity
Experiment with different construction techniques, wheel configurations and weight distribution to improve stability and transport supplies safely.
