Robotic Camp

Build Camp Robotics

July 7-9 2016

Ambitious Goals for the weekend:

1. Build and complete a fully operational 6 degrees of freedom robotic arm for each attendee to take home. (Some discount rates do not include the take home robot parts.)
2. Learn basic Arduino programming
3. Build a project to demonstrate the usefulness of the robotics we create.
4. Learn to integrate external sensors to Arduino
5. Complete a simple electronics project which includes soldering.

Why these goals are so ambitious:

At Build Camp we believe that kids can do hard things. And we believe that hard things are worth doing. When kids do hard things at young ages their capacity to do even harder things increases. Today's youth mostly are not tasked with milking cows, pitching hay, or working in sweat shops. the hardest thing most youth do is choose which app to download or which pair of jeans they are going to wear.

Tomorrows leaders, teachers, mentors, philanthropists and business men and women are going to be people who know how to do hard things. 

Building a robot requires attention to detail, takes ingenuity, skill, and effort. Building an electronics kit teaches fine motor skills, and attention to detail. Programming is similar to learning another language. It broadens the mind and teaches valuable problem solving skills.

Arduino Microcontroller.

Arduino is a mini micro controller (computer processor) that allows you to control inputs and outputs. Want a sensor to automatically water your plants? It can do it. How about a doorbell that tells solicitors to go away? Maybe a fully automated lawnmower? Arduino is one of the simplest methods of computerizing real world projects.




This robotic lawnmower is a large and amazing example of the type of things an Arduino can do.

The Robot:

6-Axis servo controlled robot arm for Arduino. This robot can be used to perform all sorts of interesting projects. It can be programmed to play a xylophone or stack cups or assemble legos or anything else you can think of.

Extras. 

Robots require programming and something to do. We will have an instructor who can help kids to understand the program language and set up the robots to function correctly. If possible students should bring a laptop computer to use. Even an old laptop is suitable as the data rate is low. Tablets may also work if you have a normal USB port or USB adapter to connect to the robot.

Each child will come home with his or her own Arduino controller, robotic arm, and a box of accessories valued over $200.

Build Camp Robotics starts on Thursday, July 7 2016 at 3:00 pm and ends on Saturday July 9 2016 at 7:00 pm. Open to youth 10-18 and Parents. Join now!