SELF-REPLICATING MACHINE (SRM) SPACE PROBE

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 makingmore SRMs to colonize this mystery planet.

PROJECT FORMAT

NOTE: This project has two parts. In PART I you make design plans with your lab partner for a SRM. In PART II you make a model of your SRM at home using recyclable materials. It is very important that you keep in mind as you make your drawingsin PART I what recyclable materials you will be using in PART II for each component of your model. Your model needs to look very close to a picture youdraw in the design plans of PART I.

PART I:

In PART I 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)Answers to each SECTION’S QUESTIONS and labels may be typed then cut out and pasted onto your drawings,or use pen or pencil andvery neat handwriting.

The detailed information needed for each part of your Design Plansis asfollows:

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

Your first and last name and lab partners first and last name

Period #

Mr. Coski’s VMS Science 7 Class

SECTION 1-Titled “Energy Capture & Storage”:In this section make drawings showing how your machine will “capture energy and store it”. Label each part (for example: “solar panel,” “battery pack,” “energy packets,” “generator,” or“motor,”).

SECTION 1 QUESTIONS:

(a)Describe howthe form of energy you choose works (for example: “SRM collects solar energy and stores it in batteries which are used to energize ‘micro-machine motors’. The micro-machines are then able to make SRM parts”).

Choose from the following:

(1) Solar Energy: Includes a solar panel that charges a battery for energy storage and later use.

(2) Chemical Energy: Involves bonding of molecules for capturing energy, and breaking of chemical bonds to release energy. An example is photosynthesis (for capturing energy), and respiration (for releasing energy).

(3) MechanicalEnergy:This can be transferred to a battery for storage and lateruse (examples are: a windmill and a water wheel turn by wind or water power which turn a generator and charge a battery).

(b) Mechanical Energyis ultimately the form of energy you want because it is the“energy of movement”. Both Solar and ChemicalEnergy can be transferred into mechanical energy by tapping into the energy stored in batteriesor in free floating energy packets (such as ATP). Write whether your “micro-machines” fuel up on energy stored in batteries or capturefree floating energy packets.

SECTION 2-Titled “Materials Gathering”: In this section make drawingsshowing how your SRM will gather raw materials so it canbuild another SRM, repair itself, and be able to grow and develop.

SECTION 2 QUESTIONS:

(a) Indicate whether your SRM is a“Passive Gatherer” or an “Active Gatherer”. Let me explain what these are below using examples of living things:

(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: 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).

(b) Indicate thetype of materials that will make up your SRM (Remember these materials need to be found on the newly discovered planet).

(c)Indicate where your SRM will find materials to make another SRM(for example, itallows materials to come to it, or will it dig, drill, suck-up, chop down trees or other plants).

(d) What equipment will your SRM need to gather materials and move them to a place where they can be broken down and shaped into parts for a new SRM. Label the equipment as to what each piece does (some possible examples: magnet, digger, vacuum, drill, chopper, grinder, micro-machine builder).

(e) If your SRM is an “Active Gather”, then describe how your SRM will move and gather raw materials(for example, if your SRM has wheels then include a drawing showing how the electric powered motor turns a shaft which turns the wheels). How will this make your SRM move and collect raw materials?).You might also show how “micro-machines”are propelled and shuttle molecules.

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

SECTION 3 QUESTIONS:

(a) Indicate the type of code (language) your SRM will use for its blueprints (HINT: some possible codes are computer (i.e. 1’s, and 0’s), Braille, Morse code, tape recording, written, or make-up your own. For example, DNA uses only four molecules in its alphabet and can make words and sentences using groupings of three for these molecules.)

(b) Explain how your SRM will store the design plans (make a drawing if it helps explain this feature).

(c) Explain how your SRM will copy the design plans (make a drawing if it helps explain this action).

(d)Explain what instruments your SRM will need topassthe SRM blueprints to the new SRM (make a drawing, if it helps explain how this is accomplished.

SECTION 4-Titled “New SRM Construction”: In this section you’ll make drawings, and label the equipment that your SRM will need to assemble and shape the raw materials into parts for the new SRMs, and put the parts in place?

SECTION 4 QUESTIONS:

(a) What will your SRM need to read the design plans and assemble the SRM’s parts (for example, draw a micro-machine gathering and transporting materials, another micro-machine reading and building a new part, and then another type of micro-machine moving and placing new parts in the right locations) .

(b) Describe how your SRM will maintain itself and replace parts that wear out and need to be repaired or replaced.

(c) If your new SRM is smaller than the original SRM, then describe how it will grow and develop and make itself a full-size SRM that in turn will make other SRMs.

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 byEACH INDIVIDUAL and delivered to school no later than Friday, October20th. 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 #

Mr. Coski’s VMS Science 7 Class

GRADING: This model is worth 20 points and your grade will be based on the following:

  1. 5 points – For proper name plate.
  2. 10 points – For creativity and attention to details in following design plans.
  3. 5 points – For use of recyclable materials.

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