Optibotz Bots

This design may be a winner;

plus two.

We added coding,

to teach them what to do.

Core Values

      One of the things we learned from our experience with FIRST, is Core Values.

     Most of our team has worked together since last year; this year one of the team's younger brother joined the team. We cooperate with each other and respect each other's ideas. We helped each other learn about robotics; how to fix certain missions on the robot. With our Research Project we diplomatically shared the work. We practice Gracious Professionalism with each other when we were doing robot trial runs against each other.  

     One of the team's members has allergies & might have been allergic to the coach’s cat; we had practice at the coach’s house. He thought he had to quit the team, but instead the team agreed to changed the practices to his house to keep him on the team. 

     Even our parents practice the Core Values. Our coach, “L3GoBots” Lady Greene, has an eye condition which prevents her from driving at night. So, when our practices are at night, our parents take turns bringing her to and from practice.

     While working hard do we have fun? Yes, we do! We love our snack breaks where we eat, drink, and tell jokes. Singing and dancing are favorite pastimes, and playing foosball against each other is what we do best!

     Since our team consists of only 4 people, we are very close with each other; we are like an extended family.

Online Interview & Demo at VGo Communications

        We had  an opportunity to go online with VGo Communications for an interview with the VGo experts at VGo headquarters using the VGo robot itself. We spoke to Ms. Partyka, Education Development Manager at VGo Communications about the VGo robot, its sensors, and the special programs. 

        First we asked a few questions, and then we were allowed to do a test run the robot, driving around a small area with a ramp and a mini classroom. It was amazing driving the robot from our computer using a VGo app. We were impressed by the camera on the robot that could move up and down; to see from side to side the robot was able to turn, even 360 degrees. 

        We asked “what sensors are in place to keep the VGo from bumping into a wall or someone?” Ms. Partyka pointed out that there were sensors on the bottom and top to differentiate between tall objects and short objects. We also liked the fact that the robot object detector sensors that informed you when it was about to fall off a ledge.  The many sensors incorporated into the VGo help to make it a safer robot. Additionally, we liked how you can take a screenshot of what the VGo sees, so you can save the picture, such as a diagram on the board.
We finished by taking a group photo of ourselves through the VGo and then docking it into its charger. Our online visit there showed us how the VGo operated, and why it worked the way it did.

Sneak Peek 3...

Front wheel drive is the key, to our robot's mobility!

Interview with a Home-schooling Mother...

        We interviewed a home-schooling mother about her experience with teaching her children. We asked her if she used any technology for the class, and she said that they usually use anything with an Internet connection for research purposes. She said that they used a laptop, tablet, or even phone to look things up.

         When we asked her if she would be interested in a telepresence robot that could allow her children to attend public school classes, she said that if it would allow her oldest son to attend a college level course for college credit, she would allow him to attend a class. We also asked Mrs. Yuen if she was interested in a robot that could help contact other homeschooling students and she replied that a robot, which would allow her children to Skype(R) and perform other functions would be helpful. 

         Finally, we asked Mrs. Yuen if there was ever a situation where she and her kids could not attend a field trip or visit due to weather conditions. She said that where they live, there is a lot of snow, and that could prevent them from being able to drive to other places while the other homeschooling students in their group might able to go. A portable robot that could be carried on a field trip would provide her children with an opportunity to be present on the trip and expand their educational experiences.

      We think a small, portable telepresence robot would be helpful to Mrs. Yuen and her children to help further advance their education.

Sneak Peek 2...

Gearing on the Medium Motors is what gives our robot pizzazz!

Interview with Dr. Faccio

Part of our research included interviews with public school educators, homeschooling parents, and a developers of “telepresence robotic devices.”

We interviewed Dr. Faccio, a principal at a New Hyde Park  High School.

Dr. Faccio, in response to our question about a small robot that would “substitute” for an absent student: 

“I love it. The school district is trying to put together a program that uses Skype. We don’t have the ability to raise its hand, and it’s hard to have that classroom interaction. The idea of the robot being able to physically raise its hand would allow the student more opportunities, as the student can’t orally ask to answer a question. Since it would be fairly small, it wouldn’t distract the kids in the classroom.”

In response to our question, Do you think this will help cut down on the number of home tutors?

“Definitely! If the students would be able to “attend” school in this way, it’ll allow them to actually learn in school without having to hire someone to come every day, and everyone wants to save money these days.” 

He  also added,

“Some cancer students have to go to chemotherapy, which makes them stay home for six weeks. In those six weeks, that’s a lot of valuable knowledge being lost. Let’s say a student goes in for chemo on Monday. They can rest on Tuesday, but then they could hook up their phone or iPad to the one in school, and they could attend and learn instead of having to make up a bulk of work before their next treatment.” 

“Actually, I have an idea for you. What if you could hook up that tablet or iPad and be able to have the teacher scan in a handout or a worksheet, the student could download it on their iPad or tablet and print it out, complete it, and scan it back in and send it to the teacher, who could check their work?”

We have incorporated that idea into our idea.

Sneak Peek 1...

The Optibotz robot is ready for action, 

but by our competitors, it has not been seen;

so here is a sneak peek of our machine.

Here is the brain,

at the games it will reign!

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