Build your own post-apocalyptic vehicle powered entirely by elastic energy and engineered to survive the wasteland.
In this hands-on workshop, students will design and construct a rubber band powered vehicle inspired by rugged “Mad Max” style machines. Using simple materials like cardboard, wheels, axles, and rubber bands, they’ll explore how energy can be stored, transferred, and released to create motion.
As they build, students will experiment with different configurations to maximise distance and reliability. They’ll test variables such as wheel size, axle friction, and rubber band tension, learning how small design changes can dramatically impact performance.
To survive the harsh conditions of the “wasteland,” each vehicle must safely transport a valuable passenger (a plastic egg). Students will design and build a protective harness system, balancing durability, stability, and efficiency so their passenger makes it through the journey intact.
Throughout the session, students will test, refine, and upgrade their machines, transforming basic builds into more advanced, battle-ready designs. The workshop culminates in a final challenge where vehicles are put to the test for both distance and survival.
This extended session is designed for older learners, allowing time to experiment, iterate, and push designs further with creative modifications and upgrades.
Learning Focus
Engineering and design
Design and build a rugged, functional elastic-powered vehicle
Energy and motion
Understand how elastic potential energy is stored and converted into movement
Forces and efficiency
Explore friction, alignment, and mechanical efficiency to improve performance
Problem solving and iteration
Test, refine, and optimise designs through repeated experimentation
Systems thinking
Understand how different components work together in a complete mechanical system
By the end of the workshop, each participant takes home a working elastic-powered “wasteland machine” and a deeper understanding of how energy, motion, and engineering design come together in real-world systems.