Wing it

Lesson Overview:

 Students integrate observations of biological processes and organisms into the design of a wind turbine blade to optimize its energy production.

Lesson Scenario:

 You and your team are new engineers at CS Wind, the wind turbine manufacturing company. They are looking to design new blades for the next generation of wind turbines. The company is requesting a design using biomimicry to optimize the efficiency of the design. Since the newly designed turbines will be used in our local area, CS Wind wants you to base your design on winged organisms in the Pueblo area. Your ultimate goal will be to design a wind turbine blade that yields the greatest energy production. Your team must design and create a 3D printed wind turbine blade that mimics a winged or finned organism to produce the most energy.

Lesson or Unit Objectives:

 Students will be able to:

• • Integrate observations of biological processes and organisms into the design of a wind turbine blade to optimize its energy production.

• • Form testable hypotheses about how the wing structure of flying organisms are likely to improve wind turbine efficiency and their important features.

• • Create a prototype using a 3D printer and parametric modeling software and test predictions.

• • Test hypotheses using prototype designs in comparison to the performance of a standard. 

Age Level or Subject:

• • 9-12 Grade, APES, AP Physics 

Lesson Plan Download

TRAILS_Design Brief_Wing it

TRAILS_Lesson Plan_Wing it