RoboCamp @ RIT
This camp is enriched with mini-projects and week-long goals that promote team-work and creativity. Along with the mini-projects, instructors teach the students some of the fundamental aspects of robotics and programming as they relate to the Lego Minstorm NXT. Mobile robots, sensors, programming, engineering design, and fun challenges are some of few aspects covered during the week.
Camp Initiatives
Hands On – Our programs are oriented around a hands-on experience for the students. The students are submerged into an environment that reinforces short teaching sessions with hands-on student tasks. Multiple instructors are available and work one-one with the students to help students with their tasks and to facilitate the learning process.
Design – Using Lego Minstrom NXT kits, students create their own mobile robots with the wide range of Lego pieces, motors, and sensors. Students are introduced to standard robot designs and encouraged to explore their own modification and/or original designs. Robot designs for the advanced programs are expected to be more complicated to tailor to the advanced camp’s tasks.
Programming - Using a graphical programming language NXT-G, students are taught how to control their mobile robots. The beginner programs covers basic programming techniques to provide mobility and simple behaviors for a mobile robot. The advanced programs re-cap existing knowledge presented from the beginner levels with expansion to more complicated behaviors and higher-level programming techniques.
Problem Solving – The students are required to complete multiple mini-tasks. Each of the tasks are designed to introduced the students to a common problem associated with robotics. These tasks require the students to apply their knowledge gained from the short lectures, hands-on tasks, and team experiments to achieve the goals of the task.
Creativity – With the range of pieces and components, the robot designs are only limited to creativity of the student. Students are encourage to think outside of the box when it comes to the design of their robot. With a competition being the final task, students will experiment with numerous physical and programmatic designs to attempt to complete the competition goals in the best manner.
Teamwork – In engineering and robotics, teamwork is vital. Our programs allows students to experience teamwork taught from an engineering perspective. Each student will be apart of a teams and will have opportunity to explore their own niche within the team. Students contribute their own skills to help achieve a functioning robot that completes the required tasks.