Students will program an ROV (RCX vehicle) that will travel from Earth to an assigned planet.

Lesson Objectives:
* Program a RCX ROV to travel from Earth to an assigned planet.
* Use this activity to learn about the solar system.


Materials Needed:
* One pre-built RCX car for each group of 2 students.
* "Solar System" that can be laid out on the floor, which shows all nine planets including Earth. These can be marked off with tape, construction paper circles, etc.
* Computers running ROBOLAB software.
* "ROVing Away" activity worksheet.
* Planet fact cards set at each planet.
* Pictures of planets

Preperation and Setup:
* Create "Solar System" and planet facts
* Lay out "Solar System" and planet facts
* Set up computers running ROBOLAB software with Pilot 4
* Distribute RCX cars
* Distribute activity worksheets
* Break students into groups of 2

The teacher should do some research on each planet so that students can discuss the solar system after the activity. Wikipedia should have sufficient information on the solar system for this activity:

Vocabulary:
* Beam
* Bricks
* Plates
* Axles
* RCX
* Solar System
* Solar Energy (optional)
* Light sensor (optional)


Procedure:
1. Divide students into groups and assign each group a planet (there may be repeats).
2. Tell students to make an educated guess as to how long they think their trip might take from Earth to their assigned planet. Have students program their car to run for this amount of time in Pilot 4 in ROBOLAB and then stop.
3. Tell students that since the planets are different distances from Earth, the time that each group programs into their RCX should be different.
4. Tell students to reenter new times until their car stops exactly at the designated planet.
5. Come together as a class and discuss the difficulties and successes that each group had.
6. Have each student read their planet fact card to the class to facilitate discussion on the solar system.