Robots Come Alive at Siena

Eleven enthusiastic students age nine - 13 spent a week at Robotics Camp on the Siena campus under the supervision of Michele McColgan, lecturer in physics. Throughout the week, students used the Lego Mindstorns NTX system to build a robot and the programming system Robolab. “When the students first come in they are afraid of the program and by the end of the first day they know exactly what to do. You can see how their world expands and they want to do some amazing things,” said McColgan.

Each day the students built and programmed their robot to perform a different task. One of the tasks included having their robot enter a cardboard tomb, follow a black tape line, pick up a scroll at the end of the tomb, turn around and exit the tomb following the same black line.
“It’s great to see and hear the students’ creative ideas and strategies in order for the robot to perform the different tasks,” said Peter Truong ’14 who is volunteering at the camp.

The students learn that a robot doesn’t have a brain and they have to program it themselves according to McColgan. “The computer software the students use is sequential, which means that each step they program impacts the next step.”

The students really enjoy having the brains behind the robot. “My favorite part is programming the robots,” said 11 year-old Srikanth Tumati who one day hopes to be an engineer.

“It’s cool that you are able to control the robot and make it do what you want it to do,” said Grace Helm who is entering third grade this coming fall.
The camp also exposes these students to a taste of college life, too. “After they come to the camp, I don’t think they are afraid of college anymore,” McColgan said. “I often hear them say, I want to come to Siena. It’s really fun and I love working in the classroom.”

Siena will be hosting a second Robotics Camp August 2- 6. For more information please contact Michele McColgan at mmccolgan@siena.edu.  

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