Robotics

Currently we are developing an introductory robotics program based on XRP for students at high schools and community colleges. We plan to host community workshops in the near future.  If your child is interested, please sign up on our mailing list.  We are based in Walnut Creek, California.

Our Robotics Club was active at NorthCreek Academy during 2018-23.  We used VEX IQ summer-camp curriculum [1] and prepare for VEX IQ Challenge.   The topics we covered were...

•  Simple machines concept, lever, gears, pulley, linkages, mechanical advantage. design and build chain reaction devices, AKA Rube Goldberg machines [1, 2, 3]. 

• Intro to mechanism designs with linkages and cams. design and build automata. review electronic circuit concepts, voltage, current, switch, motor physics. build a simple H-bridge motor control circuit.

•  intro to VEX kit. assemble basic VEX Clawbot [1, 2]. modify Clawbot gear ratio for greater lift and stacking capabilities. Intro to robotic programming with MODKIT [1, 2].  motor control.  Current events: underwater robotics [1,2,3]

•  sensor programming.  motor feedback. obstacle detection. line following. compass & gyroscope reading. Intro to RobotC programming. Current events: aerial drone[1], computer vision [0,1,2,3] 

• Intro to control theory. path planning. autonomous navigation. 

To explore further:

Science Robotics Magazine  https://robotics.sciencemag.org/

HomeBrew Robotics Club (Mt View) https://www.hbrobotics.org/

Robot Garden Club (Livermore)  https://www.robotgarden.org/