ROBOTICS

For several years Tahoma High School fielded a competitive Robotics Team; Bear Metal 2046

So successful was the endeavor that it spawned a full-time course…

A course completely independent of the Robotics Club but with many opportunities

Robotics is a “dual-credit” course which can count as both a (1.0) SCIENCE credit AND a

(1.0) MATH credit. It also fulfills the graduation requirement for CTE.

Teacher: Mr. Collins

Robotics is a unique course in other ways, as well.

Most striking may be its non-traditional methods of assessment…students are graded on various levels of competency with regard to projects, benchmarks, and competitions. Above all, the successful student is a SELF-DIRECTED LEARNER!!The course is divided as follows; DESIGN

FABRICATION & PROGRAMMING

DESIGNStudents use computer-aided designsoftware known as Autodesk Inventor

First semesterwill put you inthe driver’s seatas early robotsare all RC (thisis what yourhardware lookslike). There is asmall amount ofprogramming(most of it isdone secondsemester).

Students are divided into 8 teams and regularly find themselves in head-to-head competition with peers. Later in the course, cooperative associations are introduced (teamwork).

FABRICATIONThe robots are NOT Lego kits …the fabrication process involves machining (using a Tormach 1100 and MasterCAM CNC mills) and assembly.

There is a lot of gaming and competitions betweenthe eight groups. But things rarely go as youplanned…which is why problem solving is aprevalent Habit of Mind in the course.

Where can you place the bean bags?HIGH

MIDDLE

or LOW?

Second semester you begin working with autonomous robots…

…which means you’ll need to start…

PROGRAMMING

In addition to learning to program in the language of RobotC you will be

learning to workwith a VEX cortexmicroprocessor

Robotics can take you to incredible places…if you dare.

Even to Gale Crater, Mars!!