Remote Operations Challenge

A set of printable resources and guidance notes giving teachers and technicians the basic ingredients to run their very own IET Faraday® DIY Challenge Day. This cross-curricular activity day brings science, design and technology, engineering and maths (STEM) together in an engaging way.

The context of the challenge
Engineering has always been of great importance to the health industry. Machines, equipment, techniques and procedures are developing at a great pace and rely on engineering research and development.

The field of bioengineering – the application of engineering principles to address challenges in the fields of biology and medicine, is advancing rapidly. As medical knowledge, techniques and expertise get more sophisticated, the needs to perform remote operations, to levels of minute accuracy, are becoming more and more necessary and common.

The Remote Operations challenge is based on the IET Faraday® Challenge Day of the same name from our 2010/11 IET Faraday® Challenge Day season.

Students work in teams to design and make a prototype device that can simulate a heart and kidney transplant, but must be operated remotely. Objects representing the human heart (tennis ball) and a kidney (ping-pong ball) must be picked up and accurately placed in their appropriate holes in an MDF/cardboard cutout of a human torso.

Designed for six teams of six students (36 students in total) aged 12 – 13 years (year 8, and equivalent), the challenge encourages the development of students’ problem solving, team working and communication skills. This activity day can be tailored to the needs of your school and your students by adapting the PowerPoint presentation and the editable student booklet.

**What’s included? **

The complete set of downloadable materials includes:

Teachers pack
A list of the practical materials needed, presenters’ notes highlighting key areas and reinforcing key themes throughout the day, some handy hints on how to deliver the day … plus printable Faradays currency and student certificates.
Student booklet
Available as an editable MSWord document to allow the booklet to be adapted to meets the needs of your students and your school.
Introductory PowerPoint presentation
A step-by-step guide for your students throughout the day, with supporting notes for the delivery of the presentation, including links to the related film clips. Film clips
Informative clips about remote medicine and robotic surgery, plus examples of possible solutions to the challenge.

To view the additional related videos, please visit the IET Education website.