Parallaxians have fun too
TinkersALot
Posts: 535
This week, I had the distinct pleasure of hanging out with Matt at our children's school. He hosted a robot challenge course and timed-race with prizes as part of the school's year-end celebration. There was even a special prize given for the "nut hunt" because the r2-roving-platform developed a bad motor-vator (its wheel came off).
But that's how it is with robots. They can be constant tinker-sinks either by evolutionary-design or by well just having their wheels come off.
It was neat to hang out with him and meet him in person.
And we have proof once again that robots always create excitement for young and old.
I heard a rumor that there was some photos taken.....
But that's how it is with robots. They can be constant tinker-sinks either by evolutionary-design or by well just having their wheels come off.
It was neat to hang out with him and meet him in person.
And we have proof once again that robots always create excitement for young and old.
I heard a rumor that there was some photos taken.....
Comments
Here's the "back story"
So my kids go to a little country school in Northern CA. Some of you may remember "Maddie the Intern" - she's my first born, and she started at the school when she was 6 years old - I now have my last of four kids (Tracy) going into 7th grade at the same school. When all is done, we as a family will have been at the same school for 19 years.
Anyway, I digress...
So, being "roped into" helping at a lot of school events over the years, I'm appointed cashier again for Open House a few weeks ago. Part of my *job* is to "coherce, enjoin, rope, or drag" other parents into helping out at different school functions. It's a small, but wonderful country school - 168 students total, K-8th grade - great staff, yada yada...
So this dude says "I'll have two burger platters please". I reply: "that'll be 10 bucks. And, oh by the way, you HAVE TO sign up for one of the following events - It's the Law!"
The Dude says " well ok, I don't want to break no laws" I say "Our end of the year celebration ("Cougarpawlooza" it's called) is a blast - you need to help with that...
Dude says "OK, if I must" I say, "cool you can help me in the Robot Booth" Dude says: "Robots? What kind of Robots?!" I say "Parallax Robots". Dude says, "Parallax? I love Parallax!
I say "really?! Most excellent!" Dude says "I'm Tinkers-a-lot on the Forums" I say "Ha! It's a small, small world"
..and a good time was had by all :-)
That's Tinker with the stopwatch... That's me awarding the winner in the "sumo speed" competition.
Tinker was the official timekeeper, and we ran a couple hundred heats of sumobot races giving away a couple BOE's and a small pile of (already assembled) S2 badges.
Kids loved them - had a constant stream for the four hour event :-)
You never know who you're gonna run into...Thanks Tinker (Michael)!
-MattG
Gosh, aint that the truth, neighbor
It is so neat to see lights go on in the kid's (and big kid's eyes) whenever a robot makes it into the wild.
IMHO some of the racers deserved honorable mentions, they all raced such determination and skill, and took on all challengers, but that last heat was a crusher -- but that is the purpose of the elimination round.
Here in PA, I've never run into anyone that that knew anything about microcontrollers.
Bean
@Bean - If I recall correctly, there are a few folks in Pittsburgh that know a bit about it... http://www.ri.cmu.edu/
Hey Whit...
I was looking at a map of the lands east of California. Is it true... "There be Dragons here"? ;-)
Amanda
;0)
Aye!