Two Rock 4-H Club Robotics

The Great STEM Shortage in America

2011-12-01T09:59:00.001-08:00

If you watch TV you would think that our future star wage earners will be models, singers and top chefs. But in reality, scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians are the driving force in our American economy. So why do elementary schools (like ours) fail to prepare our kids for a future life in STEM? Read this info graphic.
Created by: Online Engineering Degree

June 12, 2011 Rockets Demonstration

2011-06-01T11:11:00.000-07:00

Come join me at the 4-H Center in Rhonert Park for a demonstration on building paper tube, compressed air rockets. All materials provided. Learn how to build your own air powered rocket launcher and more. Gliders and other rocket crafts too. 1-4 PM.

2011 4-H State Field Day

2011-06-01T11:04:00.000-07:00

Photos from the 2011 4-H State Field Day in Davis, CA. We had a great event and huge turnout of people wanting to see rabbits and make paper tube rockets. Many thanks to all the Two Rock 4-H kids and families who assisted in the booths and answered questions all day.

2011 Maker Faire

2011-05-15T10:37:00.000-07:00

Started in 2006, Maker Faire is the premier event for grassroots American innovation. As the World's Largest DIY Festival, this two-day family friendly Faire has something for everyone - a showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness and a celebration of the Maker mindset. Zoe and the Bell family went to the Maker Faire and we had a blast - way too much to see in one day but we did our best.

In 2012, I'll encourage all 4-H SET kids to meet us down in San Mateo for the next Makers Faire!

English vs. Scotts or Catapult vs. Trebuchet

2011-03-01T11:55:00.000-08:00

Two Rock 4-H SET went back to medieval history to learn about two ferocious weapons - the catapult and the trebuchet. In keeping with our 2010-11 project theme, "Kid Powered Creations", our project group met at Hobbytown USA Petaluma and watched a short video about siege weapons. That geared us up for building our wood catapult and trebuchet kits we got from Pitsco Education. These kits were fantastic. The instructions were just enough to make everyone think about what they were building but not to hard to get done in an hour or so. The catapult may have been a bit easier to build, but the trebuchets had the advantage of range, easily launching their clay projectiles across the room. The kids all brought in some things to knock over and luckily no one was unintentionally hit with flying projectiles. Let the siege begin!

4-H SET Rocket Project Blasts Off

2011-01-01T11:38:00.000-08:00

Two Rock 4-H SET constructed two different types of rockets in December and January as a part of this years project theme "Kid Powered Creations". Our first project was air powered rockets. We used a mixture of home made supplies like cardboard tubes for rocket bodies, poster foam board for fins and ping pong balls for rocket noses. Our launchers were made from plastic PVC pipe and fittings, a sprinkler solenoid valve, two nine volt batteries and a foot pump to pressurize the air chamber.

After sorting out some problems with leaks and fittings, we ventured out in the pouring rain to press a button and launch our rockets. The kids and parent had a great time experimenting with how high they could launch their rocket. We found out that above 80-90 PSI on the air pump produced some interesting results - like exploding rockets!

Kids Build Solar Cars

2010-11-14T08:40:00.000-08:00

Two Rock 4-H SET met at Leghorns Park, Petaluma CA to build solar race cars. We had a spectacular day of beautiful sunshine (great for solar cars), and warm weather. We learned a lot about solar cars, like you need to point the solar panel into the sun for maximum speed. The "Sun E Zoom" car kit from Pitsco was a fun solar car to build. The solar panel was high quality and they included several different gears to experiment with.

2010 4-H National Youth Science Day

2010-10-04T10:58:00.000-07:00

Two Rock 4-H held its 2010 National Youth Science Day event in Walnut Park, Petaluma CA on October 2. Many thanks to all the Two Rock 4-H kids and parents who helped to make this event a rousing success. We had three activities for the public to participate in: The CO2 "Turtlebot", CO2 experiments and a demonstration of solar and wind energy projects.

Our CO2 Turtlebot worked great and kids had a great time trying to maximize their CO2 output by holding their breath then signing the results as drawn by the Lego NXT robot.
Special thanks to Brian Davis of the NXT Step for his support in helping us build and program our Lego robot. Using the power of the Internet for collaboration, we conserved resources in this project. and many thanks to John Melville at Vernier Software & Technology who provided us guidance on how to connect their CO2 sensor to our robot.

We had many kids try the 4-H2O experiment and kids really got the concept of the effects of CO2 in water and the air. Some kids found that increasing the amount of CO2 in the plastic bags led to "explosive results", much to the amazement of onlookers.

We also had a chance to test some of our solar model cars as part of our 2010-11 4-H project activities. Some cars worked better than others, with the overall winner being the easy to build "Solar Grasshopper". This was the first time Two Rock 4-H had done a science event like this and I am very pleased for all the support and encouragement we had from our club and the community.

4-H Foundation BBQ Fundraiser a Success

2010-09-24T07:44:00.000-07:00

The 4-H Foundation Fundraiser “Make a Difference For Our Future Leaders” was truly a success!! A beautiful evening at Saralee’s Vineyard and Richards Grove with lots of 4-H youth members volunteering proved to be yet another successful year for the BBQ. Two Rock 4-H SET project leader and his family demonstrated several of the projects we will be working on in the 2010-11 season.

Demo of the CO2 Turtlebot

2010-09-17T09:29:00.000-07:00

We tested the CO2 "Turtlebot" - a carbon dioxide sensing robot made from Legos Mindstorms. The Turtlebot reads the CO2 level from a sample in the air, then draws the results on a long sheet of paper. The end result is a histogram graph of CO2 measurents which resemble blades of grass.

The Two Rock 4-H club will be showing its Turtlebot and many other technology projects on October 2, 1-5 PM during the National Youth Science Day in Walnut Park, Petaluma CA.

2010 4-H National Youth Science Day

2010-08-10T10:09:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, October 2, 1 PM - 5 PM, come join Two Rock 4-H Club Primary Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) project as we participate in the National Youth Science Day. This event will be held at Walnut Park at the Petaluma Farmers Market, 310 D Street, Petaluma, CA‎.

In 2009, the Two Rock 4-H Club started a SET project titled "Robots in the Environment". We looked at how robots interact and sense their surroundings and we made several different robots, including working underwater remotely operated vehicles.

For the 4-H NYSD event, we will have a 10' x 10' booth and have four activities related to this years theme - "Clean water, bright future"

1. The NYSD Experiment - Two Rock 4-H volunteers will lead the public through the bromothymol blue, pH experiment. We ordered 75 4-H experiment kits and will have on hand additional experiment materials as a reserve.

2. CO2 "Turtlebot" - We have a Lego's Mindstorms NXT "robot turtle" which senses CO2 levels and draws the results on a long piece of paper. the public can blow into a straw tubing and the turtlebot will measure the CO2 in their breath, then draw the results as a line on a piece of paper. Participants can sign their name on their line, at the end of the day we will have a long sheet of paper made up of hundreds of lines, each symbolic of the carbon footprint humans have on the planet.

3. "Weigh your carbon footprint" - We will have a wooden balance scale and various weights, each weight representing "tons of carbon" per capita. Participants will stack weights based on their unique carbon footprint (i.e. do they have a car, own a home, eat meat, take the car to school, etc). Next, participants will add weitghts tot he other side, each weight representing the average carbon footprint per capita from other countries. The message is that in the US, our consumption produces much more carbon than that of other countries.

4. "Eco-Robots" - 4-H kids will show off some simple robot kits that run off solar energy or wind power. Our 4-H project theme for 2010-11 is "Kid Powered Creations" and we will be building several creations that use alternative energy power (i.e. solar, wind, pneumatic, water). On October 2, we will preview some of these kits.
With help from Nxtasy.org, a Lego Mindstorms user community and Vernier Instruments, makers of environmental sensors that connect to Lego NXT, we have developed a CO2 sensing robot turtle that will measure the CO2 in your breath and draw the results on paper.

Kids will also be able to "weigh" their estimated carbon footprint and compare their results with other nations and find ways they can help reduce their carbon footprint by recycling and reusing. This is a free event to all. For more information, please contact David Bell.

Map To Walnut Park

View Larger Map

First Test Sea Perch ROV

2010-07-01T16:35:00.000-07:00

I had a chance to test our our new, larger Sea Perch ROV this June in Monterey, CA. The new ROV worked perfectly, able to maneuver 30 feet under the ocean in a protected area of the Monterey Breakwater. We were hoping to attract the attention (and video) of all the curious sea lions in the area, but they were just too quick.

Next test, we'll use a color video camera and add an underwater hydrophone to record sthe sounds of the sea. It will be exciting with our 4-H group gets back together and we can take these ROV's to Bodega Bay and beyond.

ROV's In Action - Responding to the Gulf Oil Spill

2010-05-17T14:11:00.000-07:00

While our 4-H kids are working on understanding robotics and underwater remote vehicles and how they are used in the environment, unfortunately a real life application is playing out in the Gulf of Mexico. Here are some real-life ROV's in action as they attempt to access and contain the damage to underwater pipes 5,000 feet below sea level.

Update: BP Provides Live Video from underwater pipe leak.

"ROV In A Box" A Big Hit at 4-H Chicken-que

2010-05-03T07:55:00.000-07:00

The Two Rock 4-H Club Primary SET Robotics group participated in the annual 4-H Chicken-que in Santa Rosa, CA. The ROV-in-a-Box Project Kit, created by Nventivity, was a big hit as the 4-H kids were enthusiastic to explain how ROV's work and show off their own ROV projects. We were able to showcase all our recent activites, including the Hexbugs, Tamiya Mechanical Walkers, Scribbler Robot (that was misbehaving) and ROV's. The merits of 4-H were prevalent as the the kids did all the interaction with the public and were enthusiastic to share their knowledge of robotics.

New Grant for Two Rock 4-H SET Project

2010-03-24T10:36:00.000-07:00

Judy Ludovise, Sonoma County 4-H YDP Representative informed me that the Two Rock 4-H Primary SET project has received $1,400.00 in State funding for use on our robotics projects and a 4-H Primary Science Field Day to be held in October 2010.

This is great news, as it means that we'll be able to do more robotics projects as a group, and show other 4-H clubs what we have accomplished.

Meeting #4

2010-03-15T09:17:00.000-07:00

On our fourth meeting of the Two Rock 4-H Club SET Robotics project, we took our creativity underwater by building our first underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROV). Modeled after the Marine Advanced Technology Education Center (MATE) "ROV in a box", our mini ROV's were made of PVC tubing, small electrical motors and a control box.

The kids had a great time looking at the minimal instructions that were provided and building the ROV as shown in the photos. We learned about buoyancy and the importance of properly weighting an underwater craft so it can efficiently move. We also learned about propulsion, and the need to mount motors correctly so the craft moves in a predictable way.

Meeting #3

2010-02-22T11:29:00.000-08:00

Our third meeting for the Two Rock 4-H Club Primary SET project was a lot of fun. This meeting was all about circuits, and what a circuit is and how to make one. We started off by looking at a simple circuit with a battery, wire and a light. Then we opened up our circuit kits which each of us made a circuit game. It was great fun watching the kids experience how to "test a nine volt battery" with their tongue! OK, let's not do this at home though.

The circuit kits were a great introduction to basic robot wiring and circuitry, and the kids were then ready to tackle more complicated tasks by experimenting with the Snap Circuits kit and rover. Thanks to all the parents who helped out and assisted kids in building their projects. We could not have a great SET project without all their help.

Meeting #2

2010-01-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

We had another great meeting yesterday for the Two Rock 4-H Club Primary SET Robotics Project. Our meeting was all about motion – how robots move and how we use things like motors, gears, axels and linkages to make motion in mechanical things. To illustrate this concept for our kids, we all got Tamiya Robocraft Series robot animals (dogs, pigs, tigers, rabbits and kangaroos).

The mechanical walkers are great little robot kits that have many, many, small parts but are all similar in construction. Kudos to the brave parents that opted to build their kits from scratch – this was a big feat to start on the end of a Sunday but we all finished.

Meeting #1

2009-12-20T09:54:00.000-08:00

On Sunday Dec 20, we had a great first meeting with the Two Rock 4-H Club Primary SET members. We started off the meeting by talking about what robots are, what they do and some of the activities we will do in our project such as building our own “bug bots” and underwater “Sea Perch” ROV’s.
Next, we were unwrapping our Hexbugs and seeing what these little robots can do, how they bump into each other and how the kids could trap them in various mazes. We finished the meeting by building our very own “bug bots”, all from scrap pieces of old pager parts, wire and a pill box. The battle between the “Bug Bots” and the Hexbugs moved to the floor and we finished the day. Pictures and videos of our meeting are below.

What Is BEAM?

2009-12-08T10:26:00.000-08:00

BEAM is a design philosophy that emphasizes simple design solutions to building robots. The most common BEAM acronym stands for:

Biology | Electronics | Aesthetics | Mechanics

Biology
BEAM robots use nature as a guide in the design of your robotic creature. Why re-invent the wheel when nature has already done so?

Electronics
These are the guts of what run a robot. The difference here is that most BEAM robots do not use a programmed microcontroller. For some applications simple components like a reed switch can do the job quicker and easier than a microcontroller.

Aesthetics
Form follows function, there is a reason falcons are shaped the way they are, there is a reason pigs don’t fly. Although not always the case the general rule is that the better constructed the robot the better it will perform. The aesthetics can also be seen as the artistic side to building robots. If your going to do it it may as well look good.

Mechanics
No matter how good the control electronics are they can not make up for bad hardware, as it’s exceedingly difficult to walk on broken legs. This is key in determining the lifetime and performance of your robot. Don’t underestimate the value of good mechanisms.

More information on building the “Coat Hangar Walker” you see above can be found here.

Robot Toothbrush – Meet Bristlebot

2009-12-06T10:28:00.000-08:00

The bristlebot, part mechanical robot and part toothebrush dates back to 2007, when the folks at Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories came up with a novel way to utilize a few items laying around. The basic materials are an old toothbrush (cut to size), a motor from an old pager (you can find these at electronics parts stores) and a battery. Tape them together and you have a tiny robot that moves about – but won’t clean your teeth.

The bristlebot is derived form other types of vibrating robots or “vibrobots”. These move about from the vibrating motion of their motors, but have no sensors or “brains” like other robots. They are fun to build though, and come in many shapes and sizes. Info on how to make this bristlebot can be found here.

Loopin Textile Electronics Kit

2009-11-20T10:30:00.000-08:00

Not every project that has great learning value needs to be a robot that walks or rolls. Sometimes, the real value is in the process of building and exploration.

The Loopin textile electronics kit looks like a plush toy that you assemble, but what’s inside is not the usual stuffing. Instead we have batteries and electronic hardware. Made of felt pieces that you fit together, the finished creature’s eyes light up when their smart soft ears are touched together, or to the ears of another Loopin. The kit can be configured in one of two ways, so that you can have two characters in one. Make a happy or a grumpy Loopin as many times as you wish while learning the circuitry. Loopin provides a fun and accessible introduction to electronics, for both boys and girls, and is also a great hands-on craft project. Comes in a variety of colors, and you can also choose your own. You can purchase the Loopin textile kite here.

2009-11-18T10:42:00.000-08:00

One of the first robots we will explore as a group is the Hexbug. Hexbugs feel their way around sensing objects in their path and move to avoid them. And they can hear! You control where they scurry through a hand clap or loud noise.We will look at how this behavior is just like our friend, the cockroach!

Our group can also fundraise with Hexbugs. The manufacturer has special pricing for non-profit groups like ours, and will sell these at wholesale. We can make up to $5 for each Hexbug that we sell. More information can be found on our fund raising page.

Mini Hamster In A Ball Robot

2009-11-15T10:36:00.000-08:00

Going with the phrase that “there’s a robot for every niche”, there’s actually a name for a family of robots that mimic hamsters on a treadmill – “miniball” robots. The name comes from a no longer available do-it-yourself kit to build such a robot.

This robot uses a solar engine . A small solar cell by itself generally doesn’t have the power to make a motor move, so you have to store this power up in a capacitor, which is a small battery-like storage device. When the circuit sees that there is enough power stored, it releases it in a burst to the motor, jerking it forward. This motion is much like a hamster in a ball, randomly making bursts of motion in one direction or another.

This silly robot got my attention so I ordered the kit and will bring our “robo-hampster” to one of our meetings. All the info you need to build this robot can be found here.

Herbie The Mousebot

2009-11-05T10:53:00.000-08:00

If you have any experience with a soldering iron, then Herbie the Mousebot is a great kit for you to build with your kids. Herbie is such an elegant, clever design using very few parts, it’s been featured in “MAKE” Magazine. Herbie the Mousebot is a 9-volt battery-powered robot that loves to chase flash light beams. If there are several Herbies in the same area, they can be configured to chase each other! These little robots are so quick, you have to run to keep up to them! Choose from Blue, White or Red colors. Expect to spend 1-2 hours working with a few small parts. The end result is a fantastic robot that can sense walls, light and sound. Buy Herbie at Solarbotics.

Binary Player Robot

2009-11-01T10:40:00.000-08:00

Binary Player Robot is very “predictable”, two-wheeled robot. An internal program stored on a memory disk created by the user determines where the robot will go. Binary Player Robot is easily re-programmable by the controller… you.

Binary Player Robot is controlled by black and white patterns on a paper disk, which are read by an infrared sensor. Particular patterns activate either of two wheels to turn left, right, forward, or pause. These on/off commands illustrate the basic principles of binary coding, and is a great introduction to young minds about how robots are programmed. To change a movement program, the operator simply creates a new disk pattern. Set your course and explore the fascinating world of Binary Player Robot! This Robot has already won all these awards:

* “2005 Top Toy of the Year Award” – Creative Child Magazine
* “2005 100 Best Children’s Product” – Dr. Toy
* “2005 10 Best Children’s Software High Tech” – Dr. Toy

Scribbler Robot

2009-10-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

The Scribbler robot is a great introductory robot for children that teaches them all types of behaviors and programs found in more expensive robots.This $100 robot has many features and comes with PC software for programming more complex behaviors. And the Scribbler part is the most fun for the kids – this robot will write on any hard surface using a sharpie pen. Just make sure you put something on the floor before kiddo sets this loose! Buy the Scribbler robot here.