Mars Rover
Students design, build and drive a six-wheeled rover with rocker-bogie suspension — engineering real traction, weight and stability problems to survive simulated Martian terrain.
8 hours of PD · student course notes & videos · full materials list — all in the one purchase.
Watch the project in action
One price. Everything to run it.
You are not just buying student worksheets. You get the full professional development so you can teach it with confidence — and every resource your students need to build it.
- ✓8 hours of step-by-step professional development — you learn the whole project before you teach it
- ✓Student course notes with the engineering principles, activities and linked videos
- ✓Instructional videos for every stage of the build
- ✓A teacher guide with the program, tips and how to troubleshoot when kids get stuck
- ✓A full materials list with links to where you buy each part
About this project
What students build
Students engineer a six-wheeled Mars rover using a rocker-bogie suspension system — the same design NASA has used on every rover since Sojourner in 1997. Before they touch a tool, they work through the real physics: traction on loose, dusty terrain, weight versus mass, and how normal reaction and friction forces change as the suspension flexes over uneven ground. That thinking then becomes a CAD model in Fusion 360, a wired-up rover, and a run on a simulated Martian obstacle course.
Why it works in a real classroom
It looks like a robotics build, but it’s really an engineering-physics unit with a rover at the end of it. Students calculate real forces — using the same friction and normal-reaction formulas engineers use — and see those numbers play out the moment their rover hits uneven terrain. That link between the maths and the machine is what makes it land.
Every stage is scaffolded: research the history of Mars exploration, sketch initial concepts, work through the physics, model the final solution in CAD, wire it up, test it, then evaluate against their own success criteria. Every student finishes with a rover that drives and a folio of engineering decisions to back it up — not just a working build, but evidence of the thinking behind it.
How the unit is sequenced
Fully sequenced across the whole engineering process: history of Mars exploration → the Martian environment → traction → weight vs mass → rocker-bogie suspension → normal reaction forces → friction forces → sketching → CAD (Fusion 360 tutorials included) → wiring → testing → evaluation. You get the student course notes with every activity and linked video, a wiring diagram, and a teacher guide that walks you through the whole build before you teach it — so you always know what’s coming next.
Materials required — and where to buy them
Here is exactly what your students need to build it. We have done the sourcing for you — buy the parts yourself from the links below, or order them through us if you would rather not chase them down.
| Item | Where to buy |
|---|---|
| Geared drive motors (one per wheel) | Online (AliExpress / Temu) |
| Wheels and axles | Online (AliExpress / Temu) |
| Chassis material (3D-printed or laser-cut rocker-bogie frame) | Your workshop / print in class |
| Wiring components (per the included wiring diagram) | Local supplier |
| Battery holder and batteries | Local supplier |
See it built
Real builds from real classrooms.
What teachers say
“The kids were engaged the whole way through, and for once I wasn’t running around fixing everyone’s build. It just worked.”
“I’d never taught anything like this before. The PD meant I knew exactly what was coming and how to handle it. Genuinely saved me weeks of prep.”
Placeholder testimonials — replace with real teacher quotes.
Questions teachers ask
Do I need a 3D printer to run the Mars Rover?+
No. A 3D printer makes the wheels and chassis tidy, but the project is built to run with parts you can laser-cut or hand-make. The teacher guide shows you both ways.
Do students need to know CAD before starting?+
No. The included Fusion 360 tutorials walk students through modelling the rocker-bogie suspension from scratch — no prior CAD experience required.
Is there real engineering content, or is it just "build a robot"?+
There's real engineering behind it. Students work through the physics of traction, weight versus mass, and normal reaction and friction forces — calculating how their rover grips and balances on uneven ground — before they model it in CAD or pick up a tool.
Do I need to be an expert to teach this?+
No. Every project includes 8 hours of professional development that walks you through the whole build from start to finish — including how to help students when something goes wrong. If you have never built with resistant materials before, this is designed for you.
What exactly do I get for the price?+
Everything you need to run the project: the professional development for you, the course notes and videos for your students, the teacher guide, and a materials list with links to buy the parts. One price, no add-ons required.
Is the professional development really included?+
Yes. The project and the PD are the same purchase — you are not buying them separately. Buy the project and the training comes with it.
What do I still need to buy on top?+
The student materials for the build. We give you the exact list and links to where you can buy each part (often cheaper online) — or, if you would rather not chase parts, you can order them through us.
How do my students and I get access after I buy?+
As soon as you check out you get access to the download pack and the professional development, so you can start planning straight away.
Can I use it with more than one class?+
Yes — one purchase covers you to run the project with your classes at your school.
What if it is not right for my classroom?+
If it is not a fit, get in touch and we will make it right. See our refund policy for the details.
Run Mars Rover without the overwhelm
One purchase gives you the training, the student resources and the materials list — everything you need to teach it with confidence.