Mobile Robotics Outreach Lab
Donation protected
What's this about?
Robotics are cool! So is learning! Learning about robots? Double awesome!
Why robots?
Well, robotics is a perfect intersection of many STEM fields! Engineering and computer science combine to cover a wide range of knowledge and skills - wide enough that everyone can find a part they excel in!
So what's the plan?
The idea is build a number of reusable kits (8 is the goal.) These kits will build autonomous mobile robots! These will be able to drive around and even avoid obstacles!
These kits will consist of:
Two motors to drive around,
A distance sensor to see,
A servo to look around,
Batteries - robot food, and
a Brain! Specifically, a PICAXE Microcontroller.
These parts will be attached with Lego plates! This will let the kits be assembled by students without tools. The circuitry will be clearly labeled, so the students will be able to just drop the chips in and plug in the wires!
This will give students in the local area (Elementary and High Schools) an opportunity to work on robotics in a hands-on way, and watch their work drive around on it's own!
Wait, what about the programming?
This will depend on the age group. Younger students will get chips preprogrammed - once everything's assembled it'll be good to go! Older students will get the opportunity to write some code of their own! Coding is an increasingly important life skill - this will give students an opportunity to try it out. Hopefully, this will spark some interest in students who otherwise wouldn't have had the opportunity!
So who's in charge?
This lab would be managed by the College of the Siskiyous Science Outreach Club. We're already working to make hands-on science available to schools in the community.
Your donation would help to really give us a hands on demonstration with some oomph!
(The above image and inspiration for the kit design are courtesy of the Let's Make Robots forum "Start Here" robot. http://letsmakerobots.com/start)
Robotics are cool! So is learning! Learning about robots? Double awesome!
Why robots?
Well, robotics is a perfect intersection of many STEM fields! Engineering and computer science combine to cover a wide range of knowledge and skills - wide enough that everyone can find a part they excel in!
So what's the plan?
The idea is build a number of reusable kits (8 is the goal.) These kits will build autonomous mobile robots! These will be able to drive around and even avoid obstacles!
These kits will consist of:
Two motors to drive around,
A distance sensor to see,
A servo to look around,
Batteries - robot food, and
a Brain! Specifically, a PICAXE Microcontroller.
These parts will be attached with Lego plates! This will let the kits be assembled by students without tools. The circuitry will be clearly labeled, so the students will be able to just drop the chips in and plug in the wires!
This will give students in the local area (Elementary and High Schools) an opportunity to work on robotics in a hands-on way, and watch their work drive around on it's own!
Wait, what about the programming?
This will depend on the age group. Younger students will get chips preprogrammed - once everything's assembled it'll be good to go! Older students will get the opportunity to write some code of their own! Coding is an increasingly important life skill - this will give students an opportunity to try it out. Hopefully, this will spark some interest in students who otherwise wouldn't have had the opportunity!
So who's in charge?
This lab would be managed by the College of the Siskiyous Science Outreach Club. We're already working to make hands-on science available to schools in the community.
Your donation would help to really give us a hands on demonstration with some oomph!
(The above image and inspiration for the kit design are courtesy of the Let's Make Robots forum "Start Here" robot. http://letsmakerobots.com/start)
Organizer
Jeremy Walker
Organizer
Yreka, CA