Axis STEM 2020 Honors Summer Assignment
The Rube Goldberg Art Machine

Safely build, invent, and engineer a Rube Goldberg machine that uses a chain reaction of moving parts to create some form of art as the end product.

A Rube Goldberg machine is a deliberately over-engineered machine that performs a simple task in a very complicated chain reaction of different mechanisms.  For the purposes of this project, your Art Machine must integrate at least five different mechanisms in its chain reaction of events.  The overall task of your machine is to create some form of art.  The art can be produced by one mechanism of the machine or any number of the parts can contribute to the final product.  

In addition to creating your Rube Goldberg Art Machine, you will need to make a video showing the successful completion of the chain reaction along with explanations of its development and your challenges.  (Look over the requirements below.)

Now it’s time to start building.  Think about motion and mechanisms, look around for some kinetic inspiration, and consider your artistic media. Then begin making, engineering, designing, and hacking.

Requirements/Constraints:  
  • Your Rube Goldberg machine uses 5 or more separate “simple mechanisms” (see definition to the right).
  • You must  integrate wind, light, water, gravity, and/or magnetism to power one or more of the mechanisms. You must use at least four of these approaches as “transfers of energy” within your system.  
  • The machine creates a work of art, be it visual, aural, culinary - the list is endless.
  • 2-3 minute video that documents your Rube-Goldberg Art Machine including the following:
    • An introduction of yourself with you on camera.
    • A description of the process you went through to create your art machine, from (1) original inspiration & vision through (2) development and to (3) the finished product.
    • Explanation of your “Edison Moments” (moments of challenge and setbacks which you overcame).
    • A demonstration of  the entire machine working continuously and successfully.
    • Edited and soundtracked using the video editing tool of your choice.
    • Post your video to YouTube and submit your information to the GoogleForm https://forms.gle/N7hDpooSCT54cd4n8  
  • Bring an example of the art created by your Art Machine on the first day of school.

Looking forward to seeing your creations!

Grading details and more information can be found HERE
If you have any questions, please contact us...


  - - - - SAFETY - - - -
Dear students-
Any time you are building or creating your first priority is your safety and the safety of those around you.  We ask that you work closely with your parental figures to select the tools and equipment you use on this assignment.  There are an infinite number of ways to complete this assignment, please pick the safe ones.
Some Definitions and Clarifications:
  • Art:The type of art and what qualifies as art is determined by you, but you should be prepared to explain the artistic value of your machine’s art product.
  • Simple Mechanism: For the purpose of this project we will define a simple mechanism as any system of moving parts that transfers an input force and changes the magnitude or direction to create an output force.
Need some Inspiration:
Check out some of these fun links and create something amazing.