The World of Robotics Incursion. Reflection from some of the students in 4CM.

Description of the incursion.

I’m a Robotix Engineer

In this workshop students are given a scenario – from a natural disaster to an automated basketball shooter – and then they design and create a robot engineered to help solve the situation. Using the Robotix platform, the paired students construct their designs ensuring that the mechanics of the robot – levers, fulcrums, gears and pulleys – all work together in making the robot meet its purpose. Finally, motors are added to fully automate the robot and the students can see their creations come to life.

Donatella:

Today, I went to a robot incursion with my class and it was pretty fun. I also worked with Annie as a partner, she was a little bit shy, but she was still awesome, she wasn't bossy at all and I really enjoyed working with her. I found building the robot interesting since I could create anything I wanted. I found challenging to put the parts together because everything was breaking apart and I was so confused. If I go back, I will try to make a better robot and I will try to not make the cables tangled.

Jessica:

Today I went to school excited because my class had an incursion in the morning. My class is now in the hall and I’m going to partner up with my best friend called Alyssa and she has long dark brown hair in a low ponytail, and big brown eyes. Right now the most interesting thing is making the robot because there are so many pieces to it like arms and wheel looking things.

(20 minutes later)

Now we are learning about motors. In my opinion the motors were challenging because all the wires were in the way of the robot. Right now we have to test our robot and someone else's robot. After everyone’s robots were done we had to clean up. If I could, I would do it again.

James:

On the robotic incursion, my partner Keith and I both made an arm and I found it interesting when he was making the wheels. I found making a gearbox for me and Keith's robot challenging because Keith was doing the testing while I was making the gearbox myself. Next time I will try to make the gearbox more stable and make it more pushed into the spaces, I will also try to add more arms to make it easier to clean, wave and welcome. My robot and my partner's robot were challenging, especially when I made the gearbox. Keith was smart and made the head well pushed and I found it even harder to pull the head off. Keith made the wheels better than we did with the other wheels, Keith was a great partner!!!

Eden:

Today my class and I had a robotics incursion. When we started we had to partner up with someone so I chose Caleb. Caleb and I rush to collect all the parts for the robot. Once we found all the parts Caleb and I started to build the main body, add wheels and tested it. Once we finished testing we were introduced to motors, controllers and wires. I use 6 motors, 4 motors for the wheels and 2 motors for the arms. I gave it a hand and a duster, then tested it and then presented it. I then walked around while Caleb controlled the robot. Then we had to dismantle the robot and left. If i could have done it again i would’ve added more arms.

Keith:

Today my class and I went to a robotic incursion in the hall. I was working with my friend James, he was really helpful and knowledgeable. Making and controlling the robot made me more interested than before because it was addictive. Controlling the robot was challenging because all the wires were tangled so I didn't know which was the right controller. If I went to another robotic incursion I will make my robot more neat and stronger because my robot was crumbling apart a lot of times.

Stella:

Today, I went on a robotic incursion and I am telling you all about it! It was really fun. First, we had to pick a partner. But I couldn’t partner up with my best friend, Donatella. I really didn’t mind, but I am lucky because I have another best friend, Taylor! She is so generous and kind. I’m so grateful that I’m allowed to work with her.

Next, we went to pick a spot. It was easy, I went for my favourite colour mat that is blue! Now, after we picked a spot. We had to pick all the items we needed for the robot, me and Taylor were working together, well- I picked up stuff because I didn’t even know what to get. And I found it interesting how people had BETTER things to build their robot. I was impressed.

I found it challenging while building the robot. It was still fun, I was struggling on putting the wheels. But Taylor was literally so smart and knew where to put it after 5 minutes, but for me it would probably take 10 minutes to figure it out. I have the world's smallest brain on earth.

This is my last paragraph, it was an amazing session. But it was over, I was so sad and I was emotional when we were breaking down all the things off the robot. I wish we did it again next year or next time, and if we do, I'll make sure to tell the helpers before I put in the things I grab.

The World of Robotics.

On Thursday 26th October we were very excited to participate in an incursion about The World of Robotics. It was fantastic working with all the different pieces of equipment. Here are some of our thoughts.

We had to pick our equipment up and some of us went into panic because we didn't know what to do. With the help of Pauline and Kevin we were all right.

We were able to get a good start but had to get help by Kevin. We got a fair bit of time but not all of us finished.

Building it was partly easy but we had to get help with the motors. The legs kept falling off but we got it to stick in the end.

I learnt that we should not force the equipment or it will break. Heather

In our incursion we made our own robots with friends. Then we had to make it to do a 360 and make it go forward and back.

The way how we made it work is that Zoe and Daniel were making it and I was testing it. So we knew it was going to work.

The most challenging part was trying to figure out the mistakes and problems. Then the cables because some didn't work. I learnt how a robot works. Also we learnt about robots and all the different types of motors. It was a nice day. By Mason

We made a robot with different types of materials. We can even make it move .

I grabbed the materials and put it down on the mat and then my partner and I built it up. If we don't have any more materials she goes and no more again it will be my turn . The materials we need are wheels, motors, controllers, body, legs and joiners.

The most challenging part is when the body keeps on falling down and it dont really stay every 10 seconds it falls. We even let Kevin and Pauline help but it still doesn't work . At last we get to see E1 do some dance movements . It's very COOL. Nadia

Elijah and I made a robot which wanted to be a mech but turned into a dog. We also saw a robot called Edie and he danced. We did it by using axles, motors, joiners, a robot head, two purple bodies and straight joiners. We made it move and pick up stuff. The most challenging part was when we had to make the body. It had to face one way and another and so we can put the wheels on. I have learnt how to actually make a robot dog. Noah

Annabelle and I built a robot at our incursion. We made a robot that could move forwards and backwards and it could grab and clean things. We had lots of fun building and controlling the robot.

I used axles, wheels, motors, joiners, cables, accessories, a body and a controller. We used joiners and axles to join the arms and legs to the body. Annabelle collected 5 motors and I collected 5 cables. We plugged the cables into the controller and motor so the legs and arms could move.

The hard part was getting the motors to work. It was also hard to take the piece apart from the other piece. It was to make it clean and pick up chairs and rubbish. The hard part was working together because sometimes we would disagree.

I have learnt a lot more about robots like motors, the pieces of the robot and how to build a robot. I loved looking at the other robots and I liked controlling the robot to move around. I loved learning about robots and how they work. I can't wait to learn more! Skyla

We build a robot out of materials and it looks really cool.

We did it by using the robot supplies.

The most challenging part was when we were putting the stuff so it could move.

I learned that making a robot looks easy but it is hard. Lilly

I built a robot in the hall with Bao. We thought it was going to be fun.

I did it by getting the pieces and building some of the robot and Bao also built some of it and worked the motors.

The most challenging part was the whole thing, and it was a lot harder than we thought. I learnt that building robots takes a long time and is hard. You need to think in a different way. - Ethan M

My partner, Hill and I built robots. At first Kevin explained the parts. I could not wait to participate in the building robot section. Then I noticed that I had to partner with someone.

I picked Hill and then we started building. We thought it was easy at first but it turned out to be harder than we expected. We needed axles, motors, wires, parts and joiners.

The hardest part was the time. We didn't have a lot so we had to hurry. It was spectacular. I learned a huge amount of things like motors powers the robot. -Ethan G

We made a robot that welcomed new students. He was going to clean the school.

Me and my partner put these tools and body to hold it up.

I had eyes and wheels for it to move and see. The challenging part was when we had to make a robot in just 10 minutes. We also had to keep it stable and up. I have learnt that they use motors to make the robots move. I also learned robots can solve any problem. Gabrielle

First Noah and I made a dog looking robot. The robot has a feather duster as a tail.

We used joiners to join stuff together. Noah and I used motors that have axels in it because it can make wheels spin forwards, backwards and around.

The most challenging part of this project was making the base of the robot and how to control the robot.

I have learnt how to build a robot and how to control a robot with a controller. Elijah

I place the pieces together with the joiners. I also placed the wheels on but it kept breaking. Some of the pieces were very loose so it was very hard to put it on.

Zoe and Mason got the pieces to build the robot. I also placed the robotic pieces together and we eventually figured out how to control the hands and wheels.

The most challenging part was when we placed the arms on. The arms always fall off when we touch. When we had to place something on the top, the wheels could not hold on, so when we had to place something on top, we had to hold the bottom.

I learnt that if you put too many plugs and press them at the same time, it would not work. I also learnt how to control a robot and if you work as a team, it will be more efficient. Daniel

We were building robots in the hall, I was partnered up with Ethan, we learnt a lot about robotics. We were building the robots by Ethan getting the materials

while Ethan was doing that I was collecting the joiners and the axles. I was mostly putting the motors on while Ethan was building the body of the robot.

The most challenging part was with the motors because the cable was getting tangled in the body. I have learnt the names of a lot of materials. I also learnt that robots use motors to move around. Bao

I built a robot with my partner Skyla, we had so much fun. We built the robot by putting pieces together to make things like arms, legs and to connect something to something else. We used Motors, axles, joiners and lot’s of other things. The most challenging part was when Skyla and I were trying to make the motors work and the controller also to work, we went through five controllers to find the one that works. I have learnt all the different parts to make a robot. Annabelle

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