Thirty-five local kids turned the Greensburg Learning Center into their own robot factory this week when they constructed the whirring and mobilized machinations for the Lego Robotics Camp.
According to ECO15 coordinator Lisa Deck, the robot kits were purchased through grants from ECO15 with help from WorkOne and the Decatur County Community Foundation. All week long, the kids, ages 9 to 13, worked together in teams to build, program and ready their robots for an obstacle course run for which they were awarded prizes. The theme of the week was “Building the Future in Advanced Manufacturing.”
Associate professor of mechanical engineering technology Dr. Joe Fuehne, out of Columbus, worked with the kids all week, monitoring their progress while showing them the value of engineering and mechanics.
On the first day of the camp, the students assembled the robots. On the second day, they programmed them. On day three, the robots were programmed to run the obstacle course. On Friday, the kids were given the opportunity to work out the bugs and fix the tweaks before the friendly competition began.
Deck explained that T-shirts with the camp logo were given to each participant, and the fees for the camp were used to pay for prizes and the shirts themselves. Other fees were covered by the DCCF and ECO15. She added that allowing kids to work in the areas of manufacturing and engineering was a good cornerstone that would likely help them in many other areas and could lead to work in a number of other opportunities.
“It’s fun,” 11-year-old Baker Howard explained. “You get to build your own robot.”
But Howard didn’t construct the robot on his own.
“We both had a part in this,” he said about his teammate, 9-year-old Cameron DeWeese. “There’s always something that needs fixed.”
Dr. Fuehne explained that each robot was built with four sensors, including a touch sensor that acts like a bumper, a sound sensor, an ultrasonic sensor that acts like “eyes” and a light sensor. All of the sensors that the robots use, Fuehne said, are used in high-tech manufacturing devices. The things the kids were learning were some of the things that they would learn on the job or in a manufacturing/engineering class, Fuehne said. The kids had to toil over equations, use math and utilize computer programming skills to prepare their robots for action. Fuehne said his goal was simply to get kids interested in the fields of engineering and manufacturing. According to Fuehne, in 2010, about 90 percent of all engineers will be in Asia, vastly outnumbering American engineers.
“We need more,” Fuehne said.
The Lego Robotics Camp was a good way to get them interested.
The winners in the morning session were: Reid and Ryan Domingo in first place; Conner Cuskaden and Spencer Koors in second place; and Josh Aukney and Miles Messer in third.
Deck explained that this was the first time a program like this had been executed in Decatur County. It was also the first time they had the kits. She noted that future Lego Robotics Camps were definitely in Greensburg’s future.
“We had a great response,” Deck said. “It’s been a great opportunity for the kids. It’s amazing to see how intelligent they are, and what they’re capable of.”
News
Related Photos
-
Joe Hornaday
Piecing Together Future Skills One Lego At A Time
- News
-
-
Week for Wishes ends optimistically
Down the road a bit from the multitude of Relay for Life fundraising activities taking place at the Decatur County Fairgrounds, the local chapter of the Make a Wish Foundation hosted a variety of fun events all their own.
-
Relay touts big numbers
Hundreds of area residents gathered at the Decatur County Fairgrounds over the weekend, each doing his or her part to take a stand against cancer.
-
"Kindy 500" a fun fest for all
There were no engines to start Thursday afternoon, and the racing "track" offered significantly less space and ground to cover compared to a certain race being staged this Sunday, but that did nothing to dampen the spirit among students as they participated in the 1st "Kindy 500" at Greensburg's Good Shepherd Academy.
-
School's out!
The children of Greensburg Elementary School were more than happy to mug for the camera en route to boarding the school buses that would soon ferry them on to summer vacation Monday afternoon.
-
FSA reminds producers to file Annual Report of Acreage
Julia A. Wickard, State Executive Director of USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Indiana today reminded producers to submit their annual report of acreage to their local FSA county office to meet FSA program eligibility requirements.
-
Surviving Decatur County's storm season
In an interview last September, meteorologist and Greensburg native Brian Schoettmer with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Louisville, Ky., told the Daily News that early-through-mid-spring and late fall tend to be the busiest and most dangerous times of the year for tornadoes and other severe weather in the Ohio Valley region.
-
Strawberry Festival date announced
The Decatur County United Fund's annual Strawberry Festival is set for Friday, June 1, on the south side of the courthouse square.
-
GoGreensburg silent auction
An autographed hat and photo card, complete with authentication papers, will be up for bids at a silent auction Monday.
-
Running Clinic ready to take off
Children planning to spend the early portion of their summer in a brisk jog may find the upcoming Decatur County Youth Running Clinic much to their liking.
-
Man held after assaulting police
A Greensburg man is in the custody of the Decatur County Jail following a drug-induced assault on police Thursday night.
- More News Headlines
-
FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
Raw Video: Tornado Appears During Wedding
HP to Cut 27,000 Jobs, Save Up to $3.5B
Inquiry Hears Wider Secret Service Misbehavior
Md. 911 Dispatcher Caught Sleeping on Job
Raw Video: Toddler Trapped in Washing Machine
Iowa Man With Zebra, Parrot in Truck Gets DUI
Egyptians Pick New President in Free Election
Giant Bull Head Draws Drivers to South Dakota
Astrodome Fades As Houston Decides Fate
Franciscan Files Tell Stories of Priest Abuse
Wildfire Destroys 2 Homes
Flight Diverted After Suspicious Note
Joplin Remembers Deadly Tornado, 1 Year Later
Panel Recommends Against Routine Prostate Test
Fired Lingerie Employee Claims Discrimination
Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide
Cuba Waiting for Cyber Age to Come
8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff
