Team robotics, often referred to as a “sport for the mind,” is a rapidly growing interscholastic activity around the world. Organizations like FIRST Robotics (For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) are combining the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) into an exciting competition-based format.
Students with expertise across the STEAM spectrum are given an opportunity to work together on a remarkably difficult task, gaining firsthand experience with both the technical and the business side of innovation. Most importantly, though, is the recognition among our budding professionals that cooperation and individual accountability are absolutely necessary for success in every team.
Darlington has offered students in the Middle and Upper schools opportunities to compete in international team robotics competitions for the past five years. Children in grades 6-8 can participate in team robotics in the FIRST Lego League enrichment course, and every fourth-grade student is given an introduction to robotics for two weeks in science class. Starting freshman year, students can sign up for the Robotics and Innovative Design elective where they will go up against teams from other schools in the FIRST Tech Challenge. Unlike most courses, Robotics and Innovative Design uses an independent study model to facilitate inquiry-based learning and creativity, as well as peer-teaching among the students. Currently, we have 14 students in the course and several more that come regularly to the MakerSpace after school.
In the Upper School, the end of the formal robotics season in early March has traditionally marked the start of our "Maker phase" in the course. Working with mentors from the 7Hills MakerSpace in Rome over the past four years, students in Robotics and Innovative Design have ventured into the realm of physical computing—an endeavor where connections are made between the physical world and sensor technology. Teams have created robot prototypes over the years that find and diffuse improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in buildings, detect and flag simulated land mines, and collect tennis balls for tired coaches.
With the development of our own MakerSpace in 2014 and growing enrollment in our robotics program, we began to dig deeper into the Maker movement and have put our former post-season projects higher on our priority list.
Last year, several students began exploring unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology and open-source autopilot software. Several potential projects have emerged, including the use of aerial images to develop 3D landscape and architectural models, programming drones to conduct live aerial video surveillance on campus, and the development of an interscholastic competition for autonomous UAVs. We started the school year by hosting “A Game of Drones” demonstration and meet-and-greet for local UAV operators as part of Rome’s Geek Week celebration.
One other Maker project in development this year is an amphibious, remote-controlled goose chaser to help our facilities team clear unwanted Canada Geese (and their messes) from Silver Lake. The prototype is evacuating geese already and we are putting the finishing touches on the final version.
Also, the DarBots are beginning to research autonomous automobiles in hopes that we can develop our own 1/10 scale model of a self-driving car using an array of sensors. The most exciting project to date, however, came to us by accident on a recent trip to pick up my son at a friend’s house. On Tuesday, the teams will also get to meet Izzy, an adorable dog with only two working legs. After a series of detailed measurements and owner input, we will begin brainstorming a prosthetic solution for Izzy and her family.
Finally, I want to share some great news about the DarBots! On Saturday, at Wheeler Magnet School in Marietta, our two DarBots teams used sound design and clever strategy to finish first and second place at the top of a field of 16 teams at the FIRST Tech Challenge Regional Qualifier. Competing together in the alliance finals, the two teams smashed the Georgia state scoring record for the season with a score of 528 points—90 points higher than the existing record. Given the exceptional performance of Darlington Robotics this season, our school will be sending TWO teams to the State Championship on Feb. 14. We hope to advance at least one team to a national level tournament again this year. Go DarBots!
