Resources for Robotics

bulletThe Art of LEGO Design

Fred Martin's article "The Art of LEGO Design" is a selection of structural ideas and techniues or, as Martin calles them, "clichés". This explores the relationship of the width, length and height of the LEGO brick, spacing and use of gears and gear trains, bracing and more.

bulletDavis Creek Elementary School

"Davis Creek Elementary has been building Robots with LEGO elements and the RCX Intelligent Brick and programming them with RoboLab software. Programs are designed and then downloaded through an infrared tower to the RCX. "

bulletLDAPS: Lego Design and Programming System from NASA

"We are dedicated to introducing Engineering into K-14 education. Engineering and it's ways of thinking and knowing are seriously lacking in public education. Engineering is involved whether a student is taking apart an everyday object to figure out how it works, or designing an experiment to test a hypothesis. We, therefore, introduce engineering both for its own merit and as a motivator for learning math and science. By taking advantage of a child's tendency to build and create, we have combined LEGO Dacta building blocks with engineering challenges in our methodology as we develop curricula, and hardware and software extensions to enhance learning."

bulletLifelong Kindergarten

"The Lifelong Kindergarten group at the MIT Media Lab aims to re-invent learning and education in a digital society. We develop new technologies that, in the spirit of the blocks and fingerpaint of kindergarten, expand the range of what people design and create -- and what they learn in the process. Our ultimate goal is a world of playfully creative people, who are constantly inventing new possibilities for themselves and their communities. "

bulletRobolabTM

"The new ROBOLAB System prepares girls and boys of all ages for careers in engineering and science with excitement and enthusiasm. With the ROBOLAB System students will learn about today's world of robotics, confined only by their imaginations. "

bulletRobolab Tuft's University

"The Center for Engineering Educational Outreach at Tufts University is dedicated to bringing engineering into the K-12 classroom. Using the model of engineering design projects, the center coordinates engineering and education experts with teachers to design curricula based on engineering programs. More than 100 teachers in schools across the U.S. and abroad have worked with the center to generate curricula, test new teaching strategies, and investigate how kids learn. This approach has had great success in integrating math, science, and reading and writing skills. Girls and boys, parents, and teachers have all been enthusiastic participants. "

bullet Robotics Education Project

"to inspire students, create learning opportunities, and enlighten inquistive minds"

bulletRobotics Resources from J. Fuller

Jim Fuller provides numerous suggestions for teachers working with robotics. He has developed a Robotics Kit for teachers and students who are looking for cheaper alternatives to the commercially available kits. Although he does not make these plans available through his website, you can email him to obtain it.

"What is the Robotics Kit? -The Robotics Kit is the culmination of years of work and experimentation. In the past, schools have been offered site rights to the information needed to construct Real World interfaces for IBM Compatibles and all of the associated reference texts and software, but not the actual hardware. By building your own interfaces you could save THOUSANDS over commercial alternatives. The problem was that while most Computing teachers were happy enough to get involved with the programming and application side, many were hesitant to do the required 'hands-on' soldering. If you are one of those people who would love to get your students involved with inexpensive interfacing (eg for Robotics and the new Year 12 Industry Information Technology), but want a fully assembled and tested interface, this is for you ..."

bullet Tech Museum: Robotics Sensing Thinking Acting

Robotics was designed to introduce the science behind the design and operation of robots. After interacting with the exhibit, you will be able to

  • Define a robot as a machine that gathers information about its environment (senses) and uses that information (thinks) to follow instructions to do work (acts).
  • Recognize the advantages and limitations of robots by comparing how robots and humans sense, think, and act by exploring uses of robots in manufacturing, research and everyday settings.
  • Understand your connection with technology and create an excitement about science and math that will prepare you for a workplace in which computer, robotics, and automation are common and essential.