Chassis design and build
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can build and test a buggy chassis.
Key learning points
- A buggy chassis provides structural support for all the components.
- A chassis must be strong enough to enable the buggy to function reliably.
- Visual inspections can help identify and fix issues before they become problems that are harder to fix.
- Motors can be controlled through code to change the direction of a buggy.
Keywords
Chassis - the base frame or structure that supports and holds components
Strong - able to withstand force, pressure or wear
Visual inspection - looking at something carefully to see if you can find any problems
Common misconception
As long as the components are attached the buggy will work fine.
A good chassis design isn’t just about holding parts. Care should be taken when positioning and securing components to ensure the buggy is reliable, easy to fix and functions as intended.
Teacher tip
Encourage learners to experiment and try out their ideas. Reinforce the idea that if something doesn't work it can be a good opportunity to learn and fix real problems.
Equipment
Pupils will need a microcontroller and software to program it. They also need materials to build a small motorised buggy. Examples in this lesson use the RPi Pico and Thonny https://oak.link/thonny
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What do motors do in an electronic circuit?
Q2.Why can’t a microcontroller drive a motor directly?
Q3.What do you call the physical points on a microcontroller for connecting wires?
Q4.What is the essential part of a circuit that provides a return path for electric current?
Q5.Match the term to its meaning:
hardware for controlling a motor
physical connection point on a microcontroller
collection of pre-written code
return path for electric current
Q6.Which of the following is NOT a function of a motor driver?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the main purpose of a buggy chassis?
Q2.Why must a chassis be strong?
Q3.What type of inspection involves carefully looking for problems or faults before they become serious?
Q4.Match the action to its benefit:
increases reliability
catches problems early
ensures the buggy works
changes buggy direction
Q5.Put these steps in order for building and testing a buggy chassis:
Q6.Which statement best explains why simply attaching components does not guarantee a buggy will work properly?
To help you plan your 11 computing lesson on: Chassis design and build, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 computing lesson on: Chassis design and build, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 computing lessons from the Using physical computing to create a robot buggy unit, dive into the full secondary computing curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.