New Videos Show Robotics Competition From the Inside Out
A few decades ago, electronics projects were common at science fairs, but now they are rare. Meanwhile, robotics competitions have exploded across the country, and it's safe to conclude that robotics has overtaken hobby electronics in high schools across the US. (See "Poudre High School 's Alpine Robotics Team Has What it Takes," March 2008.)
Tim Dolan has sent word about a new series of must-see videos on The Wall Street Journal Online web site that show the planning, travails and tensions of a robotics competition.
The series is from Andy Jordan's Tech Diary, an entertaining look at how people are using--and sometimes abusing--technology. Jordan took his miniature video camera to New York's Stuyvesant High School and recorded a series of videos about the school's FIRST robotics team. It's a series well worth watching--and showing to teenagers who are addicted to video games or who claim they have nothing to do. Here's the series:
Part 1: Building a Bot
Video:
WSJ's Andy Jordan begins his look at high school students on a quest to build a competition-ready robot. (March 25)
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid86195573/bclid132209461/bctid1473707223
Part 2: Beat the Clock
Video:
The robot kids continue their quest for a national title, battling the clock to get their bot built. (Part 2) (March 26)
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid86195573/bclid132209461/bctid1474198138
Part 3: It's Alive
Video:
Andy Jordan witnesses the birth of a bot -- designed to battle other robots. But will it work? (March 27)
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid86195573/bclid132209461/bctid1475735980
Part 4: The Battle Begins
Video:
WSJ's Andy Jordan bites his nails as Team 694 takes its first shot at winning a robot battle. (March 28)
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid86195573/bclid132209461/bctid1477205896
Apparently at least one more video will follow. You can out more about Andy Jordan and his Tech Diary here. It's a video introduction, of course.
Forrest M. Mims III |
