Activate Communications
What’s a satellite dish?
Satellite dishes are a type of antenna that uses radio waves to receive or transmit data. On a human mission to Mars they’d be used to transmit messages between Earth and Mars.
What makes radio waves suitable for deep space communication?
Oh, no! The satellite dish is down.
We have to get the Communications Station online quickly and effectively! We’ve been told that you and your team are the people we need to speak to.
Think about ways the robot could push the satellite dish into an upright position to get the Communications Station online.
Brainstorm ideas for solving the mission.
You can split the main task into smaller subtasks, and brainstorm on questions like:
- What are some ways the robot could navigate to the Communications Station?
- Can you think of some ways the robot could push the satellite dish carefully and accurately into an upright position?
Build, program, and test your robot.
Continue working on your robot until you’re ready to complete the mission.
Achievement Badges
The four levels of badges you can earn for this mission are:
Platinum Badge
The satellite dish stays upright. You’ve managed to get the link online and the scientists are uploading data as we speak. You also went beyond the mission requirements by adding features to your design. Great job!
Gold Badge
The satellite dish stays upright. You’ve managed to get the link online and the scientists are uploading data as we speak. This is a major step forward for us and it’s all due to you. Well done!
Silver Badge
Your satellite dish stays upright but at a lower position because the robot didn’t push hard enough. This means that communications will be limited for a while, but at least we have a usable link to home. Thanks for your hard work!
Bronze Badge
There’s a problem. The robot goes out and pushes on the satellite dish but the dish doesn’t stay upright because the robot pushed too much or not enough. This means that there’s no communications link. Thanks for all of your efforts, we’re glad you tried!
Go for it!
Set up your robot in the base area and send it out for a judged attempt at this mission.
Mission Rules
Remember to follow these rules when you attempt to complete the mission:
- Your robot must always start the mission from the base area.
- Your robot must leave the base area before carrying out the mission.
- A “successful robot return” occurs when any part of the robot crosses over any part of the base area line.
- You’re not allowed to touch your robot while it’s outside of the base area.
- If you touch your robot while it’s completely outside of the base area and it’s holding an object, the object must be returned to its original position and you must begin the mission again.
How did you do?
Which badge did you get? If you have time, you can try again to get a better result.
Awesome! The Communications Station is online… on to your next mission!