Robotics and kids - have them build a Bristle Bot (with Lego Mindstorms?)

So you need your kitchen cleaned

and your kids are balking? Tell them to learn robotics and devise one better than 11th grade robot wiz Erin Kennedy! To wit:

….If you are like me, you hate to sweep and are too poor to buy a “Roomba”. This BristleBot project by 11th grade programming wiz, Erin Kennedy, is a pretty simple way of getting some basic cleaning done and watching the bot scuttle around on the kitchen floor is pretty fun too….MORE….

Her original posting about her accomplishment is Bristlebot @ RobotGrrl. Quite an excellent site, an inspiration for all kids! Click below for the cute little clip:

BristleBot!!

And if you’re desirous of your kids learning robotics, point ‘em to:

• Lego Mindstorms Education
• My MindStorms Page
• The NXT STEP - LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Blog
• RobotGrrl
• Norm’s Robotics

Hope the above is useful!

ThankYouVeryMuch!

Owlbert
Like this post? Please feel free to Digg It - I very much appreciate your time!

ps - speaking about Mindstorms:


LEGO Mindstorms NXT

Feature: … All-new NXT Intelligent Brick with 32-bit microprocessor, more memory and FLASH; 3 Interactive Servo motors feature built-in rotation sensors to align speed for precise control and new sound sensor reacts to sound commands, patterns and tones; 577 specially selected LEGO TECHNIC elements for sturdy and durable building and improved functionality and movement; Intuitive, icon-based drag-and-drop program “building” environment; 6 AA batteries required (not included) …more
Customer Reviews — [1] Rating: 5 Date: 2008-03-19 Summary: NXT Product Evaluation … Introduction to Lego and the Mindstorms NXT The Lego Group is a manufacturer of toys and construction kits which has been around for exactly 50 years as of this writing. In the 1990’s, Lego created a line of basic robotics design and programming sets (deemed “Mindstorms”). These sets generally consist of a processing unit and various Lego pieces for building, motors for moving, and sensors so that the processing unit is able to know what’s going on around it. When the Mindstorms series was created, no other company …more
[2] Rating: 5 Date: 2008-02-28 Summary: Brilliant! … All the LEGO positives - modularity, durability, design - are there. On board memory is somewhat limited, but this should help in learning to write creative and efficient programs - to design bot’s for very specific tasks. It’s still somewhat new - so I’ve yet to build to my own designs; the models & programs that come with the kit definitely help understand the possibilities. A good investment - expandable and with tremendous potential. …more
Editorial Reviews — [1] … Product Description | Bow to the next generation of LEGO Mindstorms now, with a 32-bit processor, redesigned sensors, Bluetooth and more. Features: LEGO’s newest robot-building kit, with greatly improved functionality 32-bit command center with large LCD, USB 2.0 and Bluetooth interfaces that allow robots to walk, talk and interact with their environment Technic blocks (”studless legos”) create a more human, less boxy look Intuitive GUI and drag-and-drop icons are PC- and Mac-friendly Redesigned touch and…more
[2] … Amazon.com | Sure, Mindstorms NXT is a toy, but it is an important toy, like a piano or a chemistry set. It’s one of those items that engages an imagination and possibly opens doors to new interests. Since our future is surely to be shared with robots–it’s already started happening, just look at Roomba–those robots will need, at least initially, humans to program and maintain them. Those people, years from now, will likely remember their experiences with Lego Mindstorms. Out of the Box The main part of the…more

       

Related posts:

1. Babysit your kids with a shopping robot! (Lego Mindstorms, robotics, more) Now this one certainly must have sprung from the minds...
2. Trouble with Solving Rubik’s Cube? Add robotics and let Lego NXT solve it All kids enjoy doing a Rubix cube...but if trouble really...
3. Children slouching? Make that impossible (and ruin their social life too!) with Ergoskin Orthopedic Underwear Do your kids slouch? Are you angsting because you know...
4. Need to improve your kid’s memory? Check out these top 10 tips While having everything at your fingertips with regards to memory...
5. Teen style - USB Flash MemoryFashion Jewelry You knew it would come about. To wit from Gizmodo:...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Filed under: Life

==> Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get bunches automatically!