Designing Robots: A New Frontier for Hamden Hall
The establishment of an official Robotics Club is a first for the Hamden Hall community despite last year’s “unofficial” team, which finished in fourth place at an inaugural international competition.
Once a week on Tuesdays, students gather in the MakerSpace Design Lab along with their advisor, math and science teacher Ian MacDonald, to learn about basic circuitry, metal assembly, motor function, and, in the coming weeks, programming. They are assembling “Clawbots,” which are simple robot designs that operate via small motors.
“We’re getting the hang of simple robotics and motors,” said senior Gabriel Katz.
Gabe noted that once complete, the robot would be able to pick up objects such as ping pong balls and toss them in a bucket.
For Gabe and his fellow robotics enthusiasts, this is the first time they’ve engaged in this type of interdisciplinary application and collaboration. Projects employ both engineering and science principles in the overall creation and design of robots that operate both mechanically and via computer programming.
“Robotics gives students an opportunity for hands-on learning. When we talk about STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), there’s some degree of hands-on application in science labs, but this is a direct and tangible application that they wouldn’t get in the classroom,” explained Mr. MacDonald.
Mr. MacDonald went on to state that students are able to garner experience with the building of the robots in this introductory club and will then be able to join the competition team in the future if they choose.
Called the Advanced Robotics Team, the competition team formed last year and entered their first VEX Robotics International Competition, finishing in fourth place. According to Mr. MacDonald, the team borrowed a lot of the tools and equipment in order to construct their premier robot, which is designed to play a game similar to jacks.
The Advanced Team will continue competing this year in VEX Competitions, which are presented by the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation. At those events, teams of students are tasked with designing and building a robot to play against other teams from around the world in a game-based engineering challenge. The next competition is in February and Hamden Hall will compete with other area high schools in order to qualify for the Northeast Regional Competition.
In the meantime, members of the Advanced Team act as mentors and instructors to the members of the Robotics Club.
For members Jasmine Johnson and Chavon Patterson, both freshmen, the club is an extension of their interest in building and construction, which they honed during a woodworking enrichment class they took with MakerSpace Director Dave Bennett.
“I’ve always liked building things,” said Chavon as she worked on her Clawbot. “And this club is good experience for me.”
Indeed, Mr. MacDonald maintains that there is and will be a huge job market for the skills inherent in Robotics.
“Over the next couple of decades, Robotics will be important as factories are being automated, cars are being automated, and so much more,” he said. “Robots will be replacing up to 50 percent of all jobs in the next 20 to 25 years.”
Hamden Hall Country Day School
1108 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, Connecticut 06517
Phone: 203-752-2600
Fax: 203-752-2651
admissions@hamdenhall.org
Hamden, Connecticut 06517
Phone: 203-752-2600
Fax: 203-752-2651
admissions@hamdenhall.org
About Us
Hamden Hall Country Day School, located less than two miles from Yale University, is one of the best private schools in Connecticut to enroll elementary, middle, and high school students. Our nurturing and inclusive community provides a dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence by understanding each child and fostering their individual growth.
