Running on Robot Power at Future Ready Robotics Camp
Creating the brain of a robot sure takes a lot of middle school-aged brain power. It takes not just the left brain to work out the technical mechanics and coding, but also the right brain to make it creatively perfect. These concepts were put into action at Future Ready Robotics Camp conducted by Genesis: Pathways to success through the use of VexRobotics.
“Yayyyy! We did it!” can be heard being exclaimed from excited voices as they anxiously check to see if their robot will move and function. To their amazement…. it does!
This 3-day camp, lasting from July 13th through July 15th, was filled with hands-on education mixed with vast amounts of joviality. The camp was kicked off with instructors teaching a lesson on the various parts and basic mechanics of building a “clawbot” and students taking notes on the lesson plan. This was followed by the students applying their new found skills with them creating a “clawbot” of their own.
On day 2, the students put their coding skills to test as they made an effort to program a robot to be able to complete skills on its own, also known as a concept called autonomous coding. The robots created on day 2 would be used in the final competition for day 3.
The final competition would test robots and students on their ability to move pucks across an obstacle course in order to score the most points. Each team was given the opportunity to design their robot in the way that they think is best in order to dodge obstacles, maneuver pucks, and do it all in the fastest way possible.
“It’s not just about building robots. The biggest takeaway is problem solving skills that will follow them throughout their entire lives,” said Amelia Comer, the Robotics Teacher at Jac-Cen-Del High School. Comer continued, “The kids leave with this new talent of having any problem being set in front of them and having the capability to be able to work through it and find a solution.”
Genesis thanks Jac-Cen-Del Highschool for providing the space to host the camp and the Versailles McDonalds for providing a free meal for the students on Day 2 of Robotics Camp.