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Electronics
Quarter 4 – Module 1:
Materials Used in Constructing a
Robot

DIVISION OF ANGELES CITY

Electronics – Grade 10
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 4 – Module 1: Materials Used in Constructing a Robot
First Edition, 2021

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Published by the Department of Education

Regional Director : May B. Eclar PhD, CESO V
OIC Asst. Regional Director : Rhoda T. Razon EdD, CESO V

Development Team of the Module

Writers: Arnel C. Perez, Ferdinand J. Soriano, Mark Albert T. Pineda

Editors: Marjorie D. Lacson, Nerissa N. Valdez, Eliza M. Roque
Reviewers: Gemima A. Estrabillo, Emily F. Sarmiento, Hermes P. Vargas,
Noel S. Reganit, Adrian P. Tamayo, Krislene Ida N. Mercado,
Jonathan Carrasco, Billy Ray B. Manuel, Marvin R. Leano,
Gemmarie G. Rivas
Illustrator: Lady Diane M. Bonifacio
Layout Artist: Lithos F. Sto. Domingo
Management Team: May B. Eclar PhD, CESO V
Rhoda T. Razon EdD, CESO V
Ma. Irelyn P. Tamayo PhD, CESE
Fernandina P. Otchengco PhD, CESE
Librada M. Rubio PhD
Ma. Editha R. Caparas EdD
Emily F. Sarmiento PhD
Gemima A. Estrabillo PhD
Rochella C. David

Printed in the Philippines by ________________________

Department of Education – Region III – Schools Division of Angeles City

Office Address: Jesus St., Pulungbulu, Angeles City

Telephone: (045) 322-5722; 322-4702 888-0582; 887-6099
E-mail Address: angeles.city@deped.gov.ph
 10

Electronics
Quarter 4 – Module 1:
Materials Used in Constructing a
Robot
Introductory Message
This Self-Learning Module (SLM) is prepared so that you, our dear learners,
can continue your studies and learn while at home. Activities, questions,
directions, exercises, and discussions are carefully stated for you to understand
each lesson.

Each SLM is composed of different parts. Each part shall guide you step-by-
step as you discover and understand the lesson prepared for you.

Pre-tests are provided to measure your prior knowledge on lessons in each

SLM. This will tell you if you need to proceed on completing this module or if you
need to ask your facilitator or your teacher’s assistance for better understanding of
the lesson. At the end of each module, you need to answer the post-test to self-
check your learning. Answer keys are provided for each activity and test. We trust
that you will be honest in using these.

In addition to the material in the main text, Notes to the Teacher are also
provided to our facilitators and parents for strategies and reminders on how they
can best help you on your home-based learning.

Please use this module with care. Do not put unnecessary marks on any
part of this SLM. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises and
tests. And read the instructions carefully before performing each task.

If you have any questions in using this SLM or any difficulty in answering
the tasks in this module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator.

Thank you.
 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help
you master the Materials Used in Constructing a Robot. The scope of this module
permits it to be used in many different learning situations. The language used
recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged to
follow the standard sequence of the course. But the order in which you read them
can be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using.

The module will cover the lesson:

● Lesson 1 – Materials Used in Constructing a Robot

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Describe the materials used for constructing a robot

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 What I Know

Directions: Read each question carefully. Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. Which of the following materials used in robot construction is an alloy

of copper and zinc?
a. Brass
b. Bronze
c. Kevlar
d. Steel

2. Which material is a good exterior covering because it does not rust?

a. Aluminum
b. Brass
c. Kevlar
d. Steel

3. Which material is commonly used by robot builders?

a. Aluminum
b. Brass
c. Plastic
d. Steel

4. Which material is known for being malleable?

a. Aluminum
b. Kevlar
c. Plastic
d. Rubber

5. What material is known to be similar to human skin?

a. Brass
b. Kevlar
c. Plastic
d. Rubber

6. Which material is chosen for structural purposes?

a. Aluminum
b. Brass
c. Kevlar
d. Plastic

7. Which synthetic material is used in bulletproof vests?

a. Kevlar
b. Plastic
c. Rubber
d. Steel

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 8. Which material would work well in dealing with sensitive items like
fruit and small plants?
a. Aluminum
b. Brass
c. Rubber
d. Steel

9. What material can be polished to create a shiny surface?

a. Aluminum
b. Brass
c. Plastic
d. Rubber

10.What material is known to be safe from acids and bases?

a. Aluminum
b. Brass
c. Plastic
d. Steel

Materials Used in
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 Lesson

1 Constructing a Robot

In selecting the correct materials to be used in robot construction and design

it is important to know what will be the use or function of a robot. There is an array
of materials that can be used in constructing a robot using cardboard, uncooked
spaghetti noodles, LEGO bricks, titanium, and even carbon fiber casts.

What’s In

In the previous lesson in Quarter 1, you have learned about using symbols
to create a simple electrical circuit. Below is an electrical diagram showing these
symbols and parts of a circuit. Look at the diagram and answer the questions
below.

Figure 1. Simple electrical circuit

Review Questions:

1. What kind of circuit connection is used in the diagram above?

2. What are the four parts that make up a complete electrical circuit?
3. In the circuit diagram, what electrical component does a circle with the letter “M”
inside of it symbolize?

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 What’s New

For numerous individuals, robots seem to imitate human movements like in

the movies of Star Wars, Terminator, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. In any
case, many of these robots have captured our hearts and creative imagination,
because some of them still exist in the realm of science fiction. Individuals still
have not been able to create a robot with enough acceptable 'common sense' to
dependently connect with the real world. Some robots work in extreme
environments that are unsafe. However, a majority of them are given tasks that are
important and assist us in making our lives a lot easier. There are plenty of these
robots that work in the field of mechanization, fabrication, industries, medicine,
and space exploration. This makes the materials used in robot construction a vital
procedure to successfully create robots that are up to the task they are intended to
do.

Activity 1: Where to go?

In this activity, you will try to classify the given materials based on their
characteristics. You can write the name of the material in each column more than
once.
List of materials:
1 Peso coin Cardboard Plastic cup
20 Peso bill Metal spoon Plastic drinking straw
Ballpen Mirror Rubber mat
Bond paper Nail Toothpick
Candle Paperclip Wooden pencil

Materials that Materials that Materials that Materials that

float on water don’t disintegrate have shiny break when struck
when burned surfaces by a hammer

Guide Questions:
1. Which materials would you use if you are going to build a boat? Why?
2. Which materials would you use if you are going to build a fire-proof tower? Why?

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3. Which materials would you use if you want to reflect light? Why?

What is It

Robots are generally built of common materials. A few specialized robots for
household applications, the space program, or other "high tech" ventures may
utilize titanium metal, auxiliary composites of carbon strands, and even as simple
as a cardboard box.
When selecting materials in robot construction consider the following details;
weight, movement, flexibility, and even price. This would mean asking questions
like; does the robot need to be portable? Does it need to pick up materials? Does it
need to squeeze in tight spaces? Does it need to roll or swim? Or even ask yourself
can I afford to buy the materials for my build? These are things to be considered
before choosing the materials you need in your build.
Some materials you can use to build your robot are the following:
 Alloys that include Brass and Bronze
 Aluminum
 Kevlar
 Polymers that include Plastics
 Rubber
 Steel
An alloy is a material made of 2 metals. It is used for structural purposes in
robot construction. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Bronze is a combination of
copper and some other metal but commonly tin. There may be instances that
aluminum, silicon, or other metals, may have the same density as steel, and
generally half to two-thirds its strength.
Aluminum is a great material on the off chance that you’re stressed around
a robot’s exterior getting corroded over time since aluminum does not rust. Be that
as it may, since it can erode in a few damp situations, you might consider treating
the surface to provide it with more security against possible corrosion. Another
thing that makes aluminum a well-known choice for robot exteriors, is that it can
be polished to create a shiny surface. Aluminum makes the body pleasant to see at
the same time providing a tough and rugged covering.
Kevlar is a synthetic type of material used in bulletproof vests. A few of its
characteristics make it worth applying for robot exteriors, as well. You can use it as
a shell on robots that require safeguarding from extreme temperatures. Numerous
heat-resistant clothing includes Kevlar sewn into the material since it does not melt
or drip when exposed to hot environments.
Plastics are polymers that are connected by long chains of duplicate
subunits made of natural compounds. Some of these chains are comprised of
silicon that are arranged in special combinations. Plastics as a group, tend to be
waterproof, corrosion-free, and chemically safe from acids and bases. A few can be
softened or dissolved by organic solvents. Numerous plastics can be made in

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transparent form, and these form a useful class of optical materials. In general,
they are excellent electrical insulators and relatively poor conductors of heat.
Rubber and soft plastics has seen a growing demand in commercial robots
with flexible exteriors, such as human-like “skin.” Also, it’s beneficial for robots
that work with people to have delicate surfaces. Robots with elastic bodies are
ordinarily safer than those made from harder materials. Furthermore, they work
well for dealing with sensitive items like fruit and small plants. Soft robotic grippers
adapt very well to such objects in pick-and-place tasks without harming them.
Steel is one of the materials utilized most frequently by robot builders. This
durable metal could be a perfect choice if you’re building a robot that must stand
unforgiving conditions. It’s possible to solidify the steel to between 100,000 and
300,000 pound-force per square inch (psi) in numerous cases. If you plan to
harden the steel, look for some with high carbon content. More often than not, the
more carbon atoms steel contains, the stronger it becomes through heat
treatments.

What’s More

ACTIVITY 1: Which do you choose?

Study the table below. Identify the material that is being described in each
statement.
Material Function

Aluminum Used as a robot exterior for being rust-proof

and shiny.

Brass Used for structural purposes

Kevlar Used as an extreme robot covering

Plastic Used for being very malleable

Rubber Used as human-like skin

Steel Used most often by robot builders

______________1. It is used in building a robot to disable bombs in war-torn places

around the world.
______________2. It is used in building a robot that will enable to lift eggs and move
them to a designated container.
______________3. It is used in building a robot that will travel across watery terrain
while avoiding plastic containers filled with acid.
______________4. It is used in building a robot that will undergo pressure testing up
to 150,000 psi of force and still manage to work efficiently.
______________5. It is used in building a robot that will have a light reflective body

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 covering at the same time looks rugged and strong.

Guide Questions:
1. Can we use plastics if we want to build a robot that will be used to disable
bombs
and become bullet-proof? Why do you think so?
2. Can we use Kevlar to build a robot that will enable us to lift eggs and carry them
to a designated container without breaking? Why do you think so?
3. Can we use rubber as a robot covering that would be shiny and rugged at the
same time? Why do you think so?

Activity 2 : Material Crossword

Directions: Complete the crossword puzzle below.

1
2

4
5

Across
3. It is a material sewn into bulletproof vests.
4.It is a shiny material that is also rugged and tough.
Down
1. It is a durable material and perfect if you are building a robot that can withstand
unforgiving conditions.
2. It is a polymer that is corrosion-free.
3. It is used in dealing with sensitive items like fruit and small plants.

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Activity 3. What do you see!
Directions: Analyze the robot in each picture inside the given boxes. List the
materials you think were used in the construction of the robots and give a brief
explanation on why the materials were used.

Picture A: An industrial robotic arm. Picture B: A robotic hand holding and

egg.
Material/s used_____________________` Material/s
used_______________________
_____________________________________ ______________________________________

Why was it used_____________________ Why was it

used_______________________
_____________________________________ ______________________________________

_____________________________________ ______________________________________

Guide Questions:
1. Do you think that the industrial robotic arm can hold an egg without breaking
it?
Why do you think so?
2. Do you think the robotic hand can do the job of the industrial robotic arm inside
a factory? Why do you think so?
3. What material do you think is found in both of these robotic appendages?

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 What I Have Learned

Activity 1. Understanding Science Words

Directions: Fr om the given statements, analyze which material are being
described. Write the letter that corresponds to your answer on the line before the
number. You may write the letter as many times as needed.

a. Aluminum b. Brass
c. Kevlar d. Plastic
e. Rubber f. steel
1. It is a well-known choice for robot exteriors because it can be polished to
create a shiny surface.
2. It is a synthetic type of material used in bulletproof vests.
3. As a group, it is waterproof, corrosion-free, and chemically safe from
acids and bases.
4. It refers to an alloy of copper and zinc.
5. It provides the body of the robot with a tough and rugged covering.
6. This durable metal could be a perfect choice if you’re building a robot
that must stand unforgiving conditions.
7. It provides a human-like “skin” beneficial for robots that work on fragile
surfaces.
8. It is a material that can be softened or dissolved by organic solvents. It can
also be made transparent, useful for making optical materials.
9. It is one of the materials used most frequently by robot builders.
10. It is a heat-resistant material sewn into some clothing since it does not
melt or drip when exposed to hot environment.

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 What I Can Do

Activity 1: Being Bionic!

Building a Robotic Arm from cardboard
This activity will give you an idea of how to use materials necessary in building a
simple robotic arm from cardboard and other materials/tools you have at home.

Figure 1: An improvised robotic arm from cardboard.

Step 1: Gathering materials
- cardboard
- plastic straws
- cutter knife or scissors (Be careful when using these tools.
Ask for help if you need it.)
- glue gun/glue sticks
- thread/twine/yarn

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Step 2: Outlining the shape of your arm.

Figures 2 and 3: This is how your arm would look like once you placed it in the
carboard.
a. To get the shape of the arm, the hand is placed on the cardboard and traced.
b. A cutter knife/scissor is used in cutting the outline of your arm from the
cardboard.
Step 3: Bending the cardboard.

Figures 4 to 10: The pictures above show you how to properly bend the cardboard
fingers and glue the straws in the spaces between the bends.
a. For each finger, make three bends that are the same distance to copy the
bends from your actual finger.

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Step 5: Building Links

Figures 11 to 13: The images above show how to carefully insert the thread along
through the straws.
a. For the links, cut small pieces of straw and then glue one piece in between the
bends of the cardboard. (Be careful. Ask help if you need it)
b. Tie the end of the thread at the tip of the finger.
c. Slide the thread inside the small pieces of straw are placed in between the bends.
Make sure that the thread is long enough to your wrist.

Step 6: Finishing Up

Figures 14 and 15: The pictures show how to tie the end of the threads into the
cardboard rings.

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Figures 16 and 17: The pictures show that tying the end of the threads into the
cardboard rings would make the fingers of the robotic easier to control.
a. Cardboard rings are made so that the end of each thread can be tied to it. This is
how each of the fingers of your robotic arm will be directly controlled by your
real fingers.

b. Cardboard rings are made by cutting cardboard strips then joining their two
ends with glue.

Step 7: Your cardboard robotic arm is now ready!

i
Source: https://rb.gy/afndzh

Figure 18: This is how your cardboard robotic arm would look like.
Remember that you can always modify your robotic arm to suit your interest.

Your robotic arm will be scored using the rubric below.

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 INDICATOR 5 4 3 2
Structural Rigid and Somewhat Fairly rigid and Loosely rigid
Durability strong in its rigid and strong in its and strong
construction strong in its construction in its
construction construction
Appropriate Used of the Failed use one Failed to use Failed to
Materials materials (1) of materials two (2) use three (3)
required. required materials materials
required required
Design Looks Looks close to Looks halfway Looks a
exactly like a a human arm like a human little bit like
human arm arm a human
arm
Lifting Has the Has the Has the third- Failed to lift
Ability longest second-longest longest lifting the water
lifting time lifting time of time of the bottle
of the water the water water bottle
bottle bottle

Activity 2: Bionic Lift!

Directions: After building your robotic arm now is the time to test it by performing
this activity.
Materials needed:
Improvised Robotic arm, Plastic water bottle, timer (watch or cellphone)

Step 1: Collect 3 (500 ml) plastic water bottles with their caps.
Step 2: Fill the plastic water bottles with the corresponding amount of water.
Bottle 1 – 100 ml of water
Bottle 2 – 300 ml of water
Bottle 3 – 500 ml of water
Step 3: Lift each water bottle and record how long did you lift the bottle before it
fell.
Write the results on the table below and answer the guide questions.
Water Bottle Time ( secs )

100 ml

300 ml

500 ml

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Guide Questions:
1. Which water bottle you lifted the longest time? Why do you think you were able
to lift the bottle that long?
2. Which water bottle you lifted the shortest time? Why do you think you were able
to lift the bottle that long?
3. What material can you add to your robotic arm to improve your shortest lifting
time? Lift the bottle again and see what happens.

Assessment

Directions: Read each question carefully. Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Choosing the right material to be used when building a robot depends on what
reason?
a. The agility of the robot.
b. The color of the robot
c. The role the robot will perform.
d. The strength of the robot.
2. Which of the following materials can be used as a human-like skin covering of a
robot?
a. Aluminum
b. Brass
c. Kevlar
d. Rubber
3. Which of the following materials is the most often used covering by robot
builders?
a. Copper
b. Iron
c. Plastic
d. Steel
4. If you were asked to build a robot that can withstand unforgiving conditions yet
gentle enough to hold a light bulb, which materials should you use?
a. Copper and zinc
b. Iron and plastic
c. Magnesium and brass
d. Steel and Rubber
5. If you were asked to build a robot that is acid-proof and can survive extreme
environmental temperatures, which materials should you use?
a. Aluminum and brass
b. Plastic and Kevlar
c. Rubber and bronze
d. Steel and iron

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6. If you were asked to build a robot that is bulletproof and is malleable at the
same time, which materials should you use?
a. Kevlar and Plastic
b. Plastic and Brass
c. Rubber and Aluminum
d. Steel and Iron
7. Which of the following material can withstand forces of 300,000 psi?
a. Aluminum
b. Plastic
c. Rubber
d. Stee
8. Which material is acid-free?
a. Brass
b. Kevlar
c. Plastic
d. Steel
9. Which material is considered malleable?
a. Aluminum
b. Brass
c. Kevlar
d. Plastic
10.Which material is sewn into bulletproof vests?
a. Copper
b. Kevlar
c. Plastic
d. Tin

Additional Activities

Activity 1: Modified True or False!

Direction: Write TRUE if the statement is valid, otherwise, FALSE if it is invalid. If
the statement is FALSE, underline the word(s) that make it invalid and write the
correct word on the space provided to make it valid.

__________1. Robots are generally built of regular and ordinary materials.

__________2. Brass and silver are copper alloys sometimes used for structural
purposes.
__________3. Another thing that makes aluminum a well-known choice for robot
exteriors that it can be polished to create a dull surface.
__________4. Numerous plastics can be made into transparent form they can
useful as optical materials.
__________5. Numerous heat-resistant clothing includes Kevlar sewn into the
material since it does not melt or drip when exposed to hot areas

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References

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Matthews, K. 2019. 5 materials to evaluate for designing, building robust robots,
accessed 26/12/20, https://www.therobotreport.com/materials-rugged-
robot-design-building/

Robo Hub. Nd. Constructing a robotic arm from cardboard, accesses 26/27/20,
https://content.instructables.com/pdfs/EC7/KVKS/J1QP3SCC/Robotic-
Arm-From-Cardboard.pdf

Introduction to Robots, accessed 27/12/20,

https://www.galileo.org/robotics/intro.html

Robotic arm from cardboard, ROBO HUB, accessed 29/12/ 20,

https://content.instructables.com/pdfs/EC7/KVKS/J1QP3SCC/Robotic-
Arm-From-Cardboard.pdf

Structural Materials for Robots accessed 30/12/20

https://www.cs.rochester.edu/users/faculty/nelson/courses/csc_robocon/
robot_manual/materials.html

Technology Realized: The truth in technology, technologyrealized.com, accessed

30/12/20, https://technologyrealized.com/home/2017/11/24/the-best-
materials-to-build-a-robot

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For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Region III – Schools Division of Angeles City

Jesus St., Pulungbulu, Angeles City, Philippines, 2009

Telephone No.: (045) 322-5722; 322-4702; 888-0582; 887-6099

E-mail Address: angeles.city@deped.gov.ph