Transcript Sparking Interest in Middle and High School

Sparking Interest in Middle and High School
Students Using a Robotics Competition
Dr. Mark McKinney, Dr. Robert Barsanti
Team America – The Citadel
Matthew Besnard
Billy Ray Hopkins
Joseph Riser
Marc Smith
Overview
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Introduction
Background
The Competition
Lessons Learned
Plans for the Future
Team Two – The Citadel
David Bunn
Franklin Culick
Brian Elender
David Huffman
INTRODUCTION
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Lego robot competition began in 2003
Means to stimulate interest in ECE
Held along with other E-Week festivities
Focus on programming not mechanical
design
Team Tupperware
Brett Burleigh
Travis Gregg
Kevin Sundeen
Devin Wilson
BACKGROUND
• The Citadel is a Military Teaching College
in Charleston, SC.
• Two Engineering Departments
– Civil and Environmental
– Electrical and Computer
• Host annual E-Week Activities for 350
local middle and high school students
Dev. Group – The Citadel
Justin Gonnelli
Alexander Grimes
Darron Raines
Thomas Suggs
Citadel Winners
THE COMPETITION
The Field
Lego Robot Masters – Berkeley
Middle/MCSC
Katherine Touchberry
Rebekah Nobles
Abby Nobles
THE COMPETITION
The Robots
• Educational Lego Mindstorm Kits
• Each robot capable of batting and fielding
• Kit contains a programmable brick,
software, 2 DC motors, 2 light sensors, 2
touch sensors, gears, and lots of legos.
Just Josh – Berkeley Middle
Joshua Williams
THE COMPETITION
The Rules
• Each robot plays 3 outs as batter and fielder.
• Order of play determined by coin flip.
• At bat robot hits ball from tee and runs bases
until an out is scored.
• Fielding robot may capture ball to score an out.
• Out is scored if robot fails to navigate bases, or if
tee lands in outfield.
Lil Sosa – Berkeley Middle
Cody Wall
M.S. Winner!
LESSONS LEARNED
Publicity- generating interest
• Partnership with Math and Science hub.
• Personal relationship with H.S. pre-engineering
programs.
• Website to provide information repository,
logistics, and official rules.
• Coordinate with The Citadels public relations
dept. for local media coverage.
Trojans 1 – Cross High
Teron Ravenell
Tyler Jones
LESSONS LEARNED
Registration Process
• Encourage early registration. Close registration
45 minutes prior to competition start.
• Need at least 30 minutes to organize heats.
• Picture of team and robot.
• Publish heats, keep teams informed of
competition status.
Raptors – Academic Magnet
High
Jillian Sanford
Karen Greene
Justin Whitfield
Jim Yates
Matthew Daniels
Zack Walle
LESSONS LEARNED
The Competition
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Ample additional hardware for repairs.
Access to PC’s for re-programming of robots.
Video projection to prevent crowding.
Score board for spectators and competitors.
Referee (with whistle) and assistant (to assure
timely appearance) of teams at each field.
Old Reliable – Timberland High
William Holmes
H.S. Winner!
LESSONS LEARNED
The Robots
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Rugged design a necessity.
Accurate navigation more important than
speed
Building a good fielder is harder than running
bases.
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Efficient search routine
Effective ball trapping
LESSONS LEARNED
Post Competition
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Trophies for winners and runner-ups.
Certificates of participation for all entries.
Best design, coolest looking robot, fastest
robot ribbons.
The more prizes the better.
Winning robots recognized at e-week banquet.
Lego Baseball
Lego Baseball
FUTURE PLANS
• Increased entrants (multiple fields).
• Improved robots.
• Cadet mentoring
Back-up slides
High School Bracket
Great One
Great One
Premature
Old Reliable
Raptors
Old Reliable
Lego Baseball
Middle School Bracket
Just Josh
Lil’ Sosa
Lil’ Sosa
Lego Baseball