Robotics Classes

The Afterschool Program

The afterschool program is designed to introduce kids to the engineering and programming concepts underlying robotics while still being lots of fun.  Students progress from building fun robots, getting hands on experience in how gears, motors and sensors work, to programming and designing their own interactive robots.  There is an emphasis on learning by exploration.  We build a robot, then we build a better one.

The curriculum is based on the Lego Dacta/Tufts University Robolab Starter program.  The Robotics II class is based on First Lego League challenges with extra lessons from the Carnegie Mellon Robot Academy, Engineering volume I.  All classes include time for unscripted, free-building of robots.

Class size is limited to 8 students, with a minimum of 5 students registered to host any class.

Classes are held at 46 Kensington Ct., Kensington CA.  This is a quick walk from Kensington Hilltop, three minutes and no streets to cross if walking on the trail, five -10 minutes if walking along the streets. (Hilltop parents – we’ll wait a few extra minutes for upper grade kids to arrive, and class may run a few minutes late, but I encourage students to arrive as quickly as they can as the lower grade students will have been waiting.)

Winter classes begin Tuesday, January 3rd.  Continuing Intro to Robotics Classes have 10 weeks of class, no class the week of February 20th.  The Robotics Challenge I class only meets for 8 weeks, due to the holiday Monday January 16th.   

To enroll please email: info@animationandrobotics.com

Class curriculum schedule Fee
Intro to Robotics, continued Students will learn about levers, gears, motors, lights, sensors and timers.  They’ll do this by making the winning race car, designing a bug that jumps, wiggles or lights up, making a goal kicking robot, a friendly robot, a wall sensing robot, a crash test dummy robot, and more.  Each class will begin with a demonstration of the new concept and technology being featured that week.  Teams will then be formed to build different robots.  The group will compare the different designs (this one is faster, this one only lights up when the wheels are turning etc), then they will use their new knowledge with free design time to make their own robots.  Robotics concepts will roughly follow the Lego Dacta Robolab Starter program, with lots of project extras coming from the Constructopedia Mindstorms kits.  Complexity of the projects will depend on the experience, maturity and interest level of the students. Over the ten week course, all students will be exposed to simple programming using the Robolab software, with advanced instructions given to any students who are interested.Team sizes will generally be 2-4 kids, allowing for cooperative skills building, but free design time will allow each student to make their own design if they wish. Tuesdays

2:30-3:45

and

4:00 -5:15

220
Robotics Challenge  I This class will focus on the more advanced topics covered in the Dacta Robolab Starter program.  After a quick assessment of students experience with Labview and robotics, projects will be designed to move students from completing a preset design and beginning to program, to understanding how to break down a robotics challenge into simple components, to build and design for each of these components, and ultimately to meet a robotics challenge with their own design. Ages 9 -14.  Requires at least 6 students with prior Robotics experience to sign up.

Monday 3:10-4:40

185
 Robotics II Must have completed Robotics I or have similar experience.  Must be ready to write programs with the Robolab LabView software.  NXT software may also be used.  Challenges are based on previous First Lego League competitions.  Students are presented with the challenge requirements, make their project plan and design, write their programs and build their robots, test and evaluate their design, and redesign as necessary.  Students are encouraged to provide their own solutions, work in a team environment, and show off their creativity! N/A just yetAges 9-14Class length will be extended to 1.5 hours to allow for more programming timeSome challenges may require 2 ten week sessions to complete in full. 245