Arts & Bots

We've just received our first batch of 250 production Hummingbird
kits! Here's some pictures of the giant boxes they came in, the final
Hummingbird controller, and the kit contents (attached to the
controller). Each kit contains:

1 Hummingbird controller
1 6' USB A to mini-B Cable
1 5V/2A Motor power supply
4 HS-311 Servos
2 DC Gear Motors
2 Vibration Motors
8 Single color LEDs (2 each of red, amber, yellow, green)
2 Tri-color LEDs
1 Distance sensor
1 Light sensor
1 Temperature sensor
1 Knob
1 Sound sensor
1 Resistor+wires to make your own sensor (for example, a play-dough sensor)

We're very much looking forward to seeing how these get used!

See the full gallery on Posterous

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Introductory Workshop for Teachers

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:21:00 -0800

Interested in learning about Arts & Bots (formerly Robot Diaries) first hand? Join us for a short introductory workshop this March. Learn about the newest Hummingbird hardware (due to be released early 2012) and visual programming software as well as ideas for using Arts & Bots in your classroom. No robotics experience necessary.

What:
Arts & Bots Introductory Workshop

When:
March 7, 2012
5 pm - 9 pm

Where:
Newell-Simon Hall 3305
Carnegie Mellon University
4804 Forbes Ave,
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Contact:
Jenn Cross, jenncross99@gmail.com

Register:
Registration form

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New Name: Arts & Bots

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:41:00 -0800

Robot Diaries will be going by a new name: Arts & Bots. The project has grown beyond the original diary concept and Arts & Bots better describes the components of the project today. The transition may take a little while as we're still getting used to the new name ourselves, but expect to see more "Arts & Bots" in the future.

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Curriculum: Gorgon coin ROBOT - Zee Ann Poerio

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:30:00 -0800

GORGON_COIN.MP4 Watch on Posterous

(Work in progress) Gorgon ancient coin robot - obverse. This is the first robot created and programmed with a group of 4 students ranging from 5th - 8th grade. (Zee)

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Robot Diaries slide show presentation at TRETC - Zee Ann Poerio

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:20:00 -0800

Robot_Diaries_TRETC_Z_slideshow_with_data.pdf Download this file

Thanks to everyone who attended our session at TRETC. We enjoyed meeting you and sharing ideas about the ARTS & BOTS program. Thanks to everyone at CMU for your support throughout this project and special thanks to NSF for making our summer course on Educational Robotics possible. This slide show includes the powerpoint presentation with the data from the interactive questions asked.

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Videos for TRETC - Sue Mellon

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:40:00 -0800

angelPoem3.wmv Watch on Posterous

FireJet.wmv Watch on Posterous

FlipFire.wmv Watch on Posterous

FlipFire2.wmv Watch on Posterous

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Robot Diaries at TRETC - November 16, 2011

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 17:43:00 -0800

Sue Mellon, Rob Ruddle, and Zee Poerio will be presenting Robot Diaries at TRETC on Wednesday, November 16, 2011. For more information about TRETC see: www.tretc.org

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Webinars and More on Robotics

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:52:00 -0700

Just found this site which may be of interest to others:

http://curiosityintheclassroom.com/

In the teacher resource section, there are lesson plans including one on measuring the capacity of a robotic arm. Check out the "Profiles in Curiosity" section which features famous innovators. You can also sign up for updates and register for webinars. The Thursday, November 3, 2011, Thinkers of Tomorrow webinar series at 1PM is posted as a sesion for teachers and students with a robotics expert.

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Curriculum: Robot Theater - Sue Mellon

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 09:15:00 -0700

Robot Diaries Final Project.docx Download this file

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BeatleBots Curriculum - Diane Lally

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 22:09:00 -0700

by Diane Lally of South Fayette School District

CONCEPT DEFINITION.doc Download this file

Final Project CMU Course.doc Download this file

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Teachers teaching Teachers or: How much fun you can have with robots at Carnegie Mellon University

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:28:04 -0700

Another adventure to the world outside of the Museum…I recently got the chance to visit the lovely campus of Carnegie Mellon University to learn more about their program: Eudcational Robotics in the Classroom. Honestly, I was not sure what to expect at all, but the idea of learning about robots and hanging out with fellow educators sparked my interest.

Basically, what I attended was a graduation for several teachers who completed a course at CMU utilizing the Robot Diaries program. The Robot Diaries program allows someone to use simple robotics to help tell a story or express an emotion. Teachers are able to use these ”robot kits” to better help their students understand the importance of technology. its the kind of program that opens up a whole new world of exploration for people, teachers and students alike. I was seriously jealous for not being able to take this course myself.

Each of the teachers who had partaken in the class gave a presentation on how they planned on using robotics and technology to better their classroom. They also presented robots that they themselves created. These presentations and demonstrations were full of so much enthusiasm. It was great to see that this group of individuals could come together and learn something wholey new to themselves but all embrace new ideas as a group.

There were some recurring themes in each of the presentations that struck me as an observer. Most of the teachers involved in the program were Art teachers, English teachers, teachers with no backgrounds in robotics. They were willing to learn something new. The question was brought up, “what do teachers do on Summer Vacation?” Well, this specific group decided to learn a whole lot about robots and how technology can influence their current curriculum. Its always good to learn something new everyday and at the same time teach something new everyday.

It was very interesting to see and hear how the teachers were going to incorporate robots into so many various projects. Expressing poetry, teaching history, explaining organ systems, telling stories, etc. One can only wonder what else can be done with the use of simple robotics. The teachers were very enthusiastic about the fact that technology could be used to bridge gaps in certain subjects in school. “Robots as a bridge between Art and Science;” I’m certainly on board with that.

Twice during the presentations we were allowed to actually work on projects created by the teachers to either add to their robots or at least learn some simple basics about the program itself. One of the teachers presented a Beatles themed robot (she taught an art class at school that was entirely Beatles themed). She designed and programmed a Ringo-bot that played the drums; but she needed some hands designed for him. I jumped right in and created two quick hands; one robot themed and one Beatle themed. So much fun…

Once again, it was too much fun sitting in on these presentations. all of the teachers involved were so willing to learn knew things and adapt them to existing lesson plans. The idea of expressing Edgar Allen Poe literature through robots is awesome…The idea of teaching history by using robots is perfect…the idea of teaching art by using robots is amazing…Thankfully these aren’t just ideas. This is curriculum that is going to be implemented into several schools in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas.

Thanks again to CMU for inviting me to sit in on these presentations. Its always great to see teachers working together; collaboration is so important. It was also great to see that everyone is using the same robotics program in different ways. As always, I love exploring new things for the Museum and this was easily one of the best. I got to hang out with some of my favorite things; teachers and robots.

-Kevin

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