“”The Project Lead the Way Digital Electronics class at La Crosse Logan High School partnered with Industrial Automation, Motion Industries, Inc., Schaeffler Group USA, Inc., and Trane of La Crosse to design and build a Repetitive Work Exo Arm during the 2016-17 school year.
Exoskeletons contain rigid and resistant components that fulfill a set of functional roles including protection, support, and as an assistive technology to improve the quality of life. They are fabricated out of steel or aluminum and move with the use of actuators or servo motors. A microcontroller is separately programmed dependent on the function of the exoskeleton.
“Working with our business partners to create high-level engineering projects of this nature generates a more authentic learning experience for our students,” said Logan High School Technology and Engineering teacher Steve Johnston.
The students focused on designing, programming, and fabricating an Exo Arm with the following targeted goals: 1. Create an authentic engineering learning experience for the students. 2. Design and fabricate an Exo-Arm for a repetitive work related job (grinding) in manufacturing. 3. The Exo Arm will relieve the tension and lifting forces that a worker experiences with a grinding operation.
“I definitely learned more with this project,” said Logan High School senior Grant Simmons. “It challenged us and really taught us a lot about perseverance.”
The Exo Arm was designed and fabricated at Logan High School in the Technology and Engineering Department. Industrial Automation, Motion Industries, Inc., Schaeffler Group USA, Inc., and Trane provided technical support and helped define the parameters of the project.
“Gaining hands-on experience with this project was a valuable resume builder and personal development plan for the students to take with them into their next endeavor,” said Trane Inc., EHS Manager Mike Karlovich.
The project was funded by a grant from the La Crosse Public Education Foundation, which in recent years has supported class projects to build remote-operated underwater and aerial vehicles, as well as a self-driving car.
Learn more about the entire project by looking through the class archive blog at http://loganrangerexoarm.blogspot.com/.””””[vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/woDyV5qB-Co” align=”center”]””
