🏭 M9 Factory Automation

Cogworks Toy Factory is swamped with orders. The boss wants machines that move, dig and sort, so the workers can go home on time.

Engineers, Advanced. Engineer Stamp: Automation Ace.

Lessons

  1. The factory conveyor: Every factory has one. How many bricks per minute can ours carry?
  2. The crank excavator arm: Loading the belt takes a digger. Three joints, one operator. Can you control them all?
  3. Throughput lab: Faster belt = more bricks? Or more bricks falling off?
  4. The colour sorter: Red here, blue there. A sensor and a servo can sort faster than you!
  5. Design Day: Factory line: A rush order of 10,000 toys! Every second counts.
  6. Showcase: Factory Shift: The factory whistle blows! Clock on, run the line, clock off.

Design challenge

Build a production line that moves 10 bricks from a pile into a bin in under 2 minutes, with as little human help as possible.

Engineering ideas

Standards: MS-ETS1-2, MS-ETS1-4, CSTA 2-AP-12