Volunteers needed to build robots

  • Published
  • By Danny Monahan
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. --  The Air Force Research Laboratory needs 15 volunteers to mentor students for La Luz Academy's Robot Systems Flight for the upcoming school year.

The Robot Systems Flight is a program where middle school students explore the basics of systems engineering and robotics by building and programming small wheeled robots.

"The goal of La Luz Academy is to increase student interest in pursuing studies and careers related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics," said Diane MacAlpine, Robot Systems Flight trainer. "The Robot Systems Flight is a great and fun way to get kids involved in STEM."

MacAlpine said she coaches volunteers and teachers about the basics of assembling and programming robots, so they may then return to the classroom with materials to teach the students robot-building concepts.

"Students will take what they have learned from the volunteers and their teachers and then assemble their robots," said MacAlpine. "They will have to install components, such as a stamp board, a chassis, motors, wheels, a battery pack, and various screws, nuts and washers. Once completed, students use their new programming skills to make their robot do simple tasks such as flash lights, play music and move forward or backward."

According to MacAlpine, students who successfully meet the challenges and post videos of their results on the AFRL La Luz Academy Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/?sk=welcome#!/AFRLLaLuzAcademy, will receive an invitation to participate in the Robot Systems Expo Feb. 16, 2013.

"At the Expo, students will demonstrate how their robot can run through various obstacle courses," said MacAlpine. "Volunteers provide feedback to the students as their robots complete each obstacle course."

People interested in volunteering can attend a meeting at 11 a.m. Tuesday at AFRL La Luz Academy, Building 1900.

For more information, contact Diane MacAlpine at diane.macalpine.ctr@kirtland.af.mil or 853-8110.