Need A Hand?
Human Health and Behavior
Benjamin Ballestero
- Grade:
- 5
- Teacher:
- Amanda Middendorf
I built a hydraulic hand out of popsicle sticks. I wanted to see if it could lift a 1 pound cylinder weight. This is important because I wanted to be able to lift something from higher up. The hydraulic hand was able to lift a 2.3 pound cylinder weight.
This is an impressive engineering design project! I was very impressed by how you built a working hydraulic hand using syringes, tubing, Popsicle sticks, and simple materials while staying within your cost constraints. Your criteria and constraints were clearly defined, and you followed the engineering design process by testing, identifying a limitation, and then improving your prototype. The redesign section was especially strong for the fact that you analyzed why the hand could not lift the heavier 2.33 pound weight, added foam for grip and rubber bands for support, and successfully solved the problem. That shows real problem-solving and iterative thinking. Your detailed step-by-step creation process and research about hydraulic systems demonstrate strong understanding of how force is transferred using fluids. Keep exploring robotics and mechanical engineering you are developing excellent design and innovation skills!
Well done, and I love the youtube link demonstrating your project. Thank you for sharing this!
This is an excellent engineering project! I was impressed by how you designed and built a working hydraulic robotic hand using simple materials. Your redesign process showed strong engineering thinking because you identified a problem with the grip and improved it by adding foam and rubber bands. Your final design successfully lifted a heavier weight, which demonstrates the effectiveness of your improvements. Fantastic work!
This is an outstanding engineering project! I was particularly impressed by your commitment to the engineering design process. Many students stop after their first build, but you recognized that your initial design had a limitation—a lack of grip—and you systematically redesigned your ‘hand’ to solve that problem. That transition from a 1 lb lifting capacity to a 2.33 lb capacity is a great example of successful engineering improvement. You clearly understand how hydraulics work to transmit force. For your future designs, you might investigate how the angle of the syringes affects the range of motion of your ‘fingers.’ Keep up the great work; you have the mindset of a true engineer!