From September 8th to October 13th, Team 1403 led an outreach event at Sri Venkateswara Temple (Balaji Mandir) and Community Center in Bridgewater, NJ. Organized by sophomore Ansh Khurana, a member of our Mechanical Subteam, the program was centered around FIRST robotics-based classes. Our team guided 2nd to 8th graders through hands-on engineering and programming challenges using Lego WeDos and SPIKE robots. In total, team members taught 40 kids primarily from the Bridgewater area.
The program consisted of 2-hour classes for six weeks. Over this time period, 10 students contributed a total of 128 volunteer hours. Participants were divided into two groups: one for grades 2-4, and the second for grades 5-8.
The younger group first focused on basic topics such as motors, before moving towards more advanced topics such as using sensors to solve problems. Challenges included building and programming a fan, a prosthetic arm, and a satellite, using the instruction manuals provided on the WeDo website. The final two classes provided the most freedom. Participants were given a prompt to create a device which made traveling in cities safer for pedestrians but no specific instructions; it was up to them to create a solution using the resources available. Solutions included a sensor attached to a car which immediately stopped if a hand was sensed; another participant created a moving traffic light.
On the other hand, the older group’s classes revolved around preparing them for the FIRST Lego League (FLL) Challenge—FIRST’s robotics competition for middle schoolers. Immediately, they began with more advanced topics, such as utilizing the color sensor, as well as picking up and moving objects. One of their challenges was to make their robots U-turn when it detected a certain color. They were also tasked with building a safety deposit box, and then grabbing and placing objects into it.
The older group’s main goal, however, was rooted in their innovation project. Similar to this year’s FLL theme of ocean exploration, groups were tasked with researching a problem related to the ocean, and then creating a solution. Their ideas were to be shared in a presentation in the final class. Chosen problems included water pollution, overfishing, and oil spills.
These classes were not only educational, but also lots of fun for participants. Sophomore Ranvir Singh, who mentored the older group, said that “all my mentees seemed to have lots of fun during the challenges. My favorite innovation project was one regarding a trash-cleaning robot; although their idea was seemingly basic, they added their own twists, such as a filtration system and the ability to sort through different types of waste. I was surprised by their ability to expand on a basic idea as the classes went on.” Team member Prabhav Pillarisetti, who taught the younger group, said that “the kids seemed to really enjoy the challenges […] some of the builds I remember were a functional streetlight, and a giant fan.” Overall, our student volunteers agreed that this program left a lasting impact on participants, exhibiting major growth in teamwork, critical thinking, and creativity.
Ultimately, this program was a resounding success, sparking enthusiasm and a deeper understanding of robotics among participants. Team 1403 hopes to hold similar events in the future. Despite being rooted in basic STEM concepts, programs like these can foster a lifelong interest in technology and innovation.
Written by The Business & Communications Subteam
Instagram: @team1403
Website: www.cougarrobotics.com
Email: cougar1403@gmail.com