Design Project: Penguin Transport Sled

Penguins are expert travelers on ice, but even they need a little help moving heavy loads across Antarctica. In this project, students become Arctic engineers: designing a sled capable of safely transporting penguins (or penguin figurines) across icy terrain.

This challenge encourages creativity, problem-solving, and engineering thinking. Students will explore concepts such as friction, stability, and weight distribution while learning to design and model their sleds in CAD. Every sled can be unique—no two penguin transports will be alike!

Students will design and fabricate a sled to carry a small load of “penguins” across a smooth, low-friction surface (cotton, felt, or similar). The sled should be stable, easy to move, and visually fun.

This project introduces students to:

• CAD sketching and 3D modeling
• Friction and load distribution principles
• Simple structural design
• Mirroring and patterning tools for symmetrical sled features

Design a sled that can:

• Carry a small load (penguins, figurines, or weighted objects)
• Glide smoothly across a designated surface
• Include creative design elements inspired by Arctic themes

Students should focus on these key CAD skills:

1. Sketching & Extrusions
   • Create 2D sketches of sled components (platform, runners, fins).
   • Use extrude to turn sketches into 3D parts.
2. Symmetry & Mirroring
   • Ensure sled runners, supports, and decorative features are identical on both sides.
   • Apply mirror tools for efficiency and precision.
3. Patterning
   • Use linear or circular patterns for repeated elements (e.g., fin supports, decorative cutouts).
4. Assembly Basics
   • Combine multiple parts (platform, runners, decorations) in an assembly environment.
   • Check fit and alignment.
5. Parametric Design
   • Use dimensions and constraints to make sled adjustments easy.
   • Example: adjusting runner width or platform size without redrawing everything.
6. Material & Thickness Considerations
   • Model parts with appropriate thickness for stability.
   • Understand how CAD dimensions relate to physical materials.
7. Optional Motion Simulation (Advanced)
   • Simulate sled glide or balance under load.
   • Identify potential design improvements before fabrication.

• Sketch a basic sled shape: flat platform with runners.
• Add supports to hold the penguins in place.
• Use basic CAD extrusions to model runners and sled platform.
• Test on a smooth surface to see which design glides farthest and stays upright.

• Optimize runners: use CAD to analyze shape and minimize friction.
• Add steering or turning fins for directional control.
• Experiment with weight placement and sled stability.
• Include decorative features (penguin-themed, Arctic patterns) using CAD surfaces or cutouts.
• Optional: simulate motion in CAD to see how sled responds to uneven surfaces or loads.

Students submit:

1. Screenshot of their CAD sled design
2. Brief description (3–5 sentences) of how they applied design principles: stability, glide efficiency, or decoration
3. Photo or video of the sled in action (gliding across the test surface)