Mech-Antics A Hands-on Engineering and Robotics Educational Summer Camp
In Mech-Antics, students will be exposed to and develop the following knowledge and skill sets:
• the basic physical principles of a robotic mechanism
• the design and engineering process
• fabrication processes including hand and power tool use
Ages 10-18
Monday-Friday 1:30 to 5:30
U.K. College of Engineering Courtyard
Mobile Engineering Center
Camp Description:
Learn to get a grip in this half day camp in which each participant designs and constructs a robotic gripper hand. Students start with kits of raw materials such as steel tubing, aluminum, plastic and other parts and construct a complete robotic gripper of their own design. Throughout the week, under close adult supervision, students work in the Mobile Engineering Center, a portable machine shop which houses all the hand and power tools needed to construct a complete, fully functioning robotic gripper mechanism. Participants will learn a variety of skills including basic physics and engineering principles, the design process, and hand and power tool use.
Student with his gripper
As the grippers approach completion, students will be able to test the functioning of their designs to see how well they work. Near the end of the week, students use their devices in a series ofactivities in which they attach their grippers topre-existing arms on robotic rovers, drivable electric vehicles that contain controls that operate the arms and grippers. From the passenger seats of the rovers, students will be able operate their robotic devices to retrieve objects on the ground and on various stands. Tweaking the grippers to improve their performance, testing hand eye coordination, and seeing firsthand how basic science knowledge is used in the real world of engineering are all in a day’s work at Newton’s Attic. At the end of camp, students keep their grippers.
Blue Rover with Gripper and Robotic Arm
At the end of the summer camp season, Newton’s Attic will host an outdoor event to which all Mech-Antics camp participants are invited. In this event, participants form teams of two players and compete in a challenge course in which the object is to score points by retrieving numerous objects scattered throughout. Through a series of elimination rounds, teams score points based on the number and type of objects collected. The highest scoring team wins the tournament.
Notes:
Safety glasses or goggles and gloves provided.
Loose clothing, jewelry, and open toed shoes should not be worn.
Long hair must be pulled back.
When working with power tools there is always the risk of cuts, scrapes and scratches. Constant adult supervision will be provided.
Cost:$225
Registration Deadline:Mondays, 1 week prior to beginning of each weekly camp.
To register, please call or email bill@newtonsattic.com with the following information: Your name and phone number, the name & age of the student, and the camp name and date in which you are interested.
