Greetings, School Loop Visitor!
We’d like to give you a warm welcome here at Lynbrook Robotics. Before we start explaining our activities, let’s quickly go over why you’re here. Maybe it’s because you have a vested interest in technology. Or you could have a passion for science. Maybe you’ve even done some robotics before. Whether it’s hardware or software, science or techonology, or design or development, Lynbrook Robotics is the right place for you. Even if you aren’t sure about robotics, we urge you to read through and see if any of our topics can suit your strengths and interests.
To begin, let’s go over the granddaddy of all our events: the FIRST Robotics Competition. From the beginning of January to mid-February, we are given a total of 6 weeks to design and build a robot that competes in an annually-changing game. Throughout the competition, we work with experienced mentors who guide us in our challenge and help to produce a winning robot. Furthermore, we apply concepts that you learn in your science and math classes directly to the competition. What’s the good in learning if you aren’t able to apply and use it? Lynbrook Robotics provides you a medium to do so.
In addition, for those of you interested in watching our robot perform, the locations for competitions in 2010 are listed below:
- Away Competition: San Diego – March 5th and 6th
- Regional Competition: San Jose State University Event Center – March 19th and 20th
Now, just because we participate in a competition doesn’t mean that’s what robotics is all about. Indeed, even the FIRST founder, Dean Kamen, will tell you otherwise. Participating in FIRST gives you an edge. Not just an edge in school, but an edge in life. Teachers will tell you that the best way to learn something is by doing it. Through FIRST, you are able to participate. You put the education that you learn from teachers into effect. Unlike those who only learn, you train. You apply. You gain an upper hand when it comes to activities, when it comes to sports, and even when it comes to college. The best part of it is that everything can be carried on. Everything can be used later in life. Deam Kamen notes this fact when he acknowledges,
“You have teenagers thinking they’re going to make millions as NBA stars when that’s not realistic for even 1 percent of them. Becoming a scientist or engineer is.”
The benefits of FIRST are numerous. But if the robotics competition doesn’t completely float your boat, there is much else to do. Lynbrook Robotics is all about working off season by reaching out to the community, participating in other competitions, and learning even more. Consider the following activities that you’re always welcome and urged to participate in:
- Design artwork for our team that can be used on t-shirts, fliers, and our robot
- Help raise and manage our budget
- Improve your public speaking at many corporate presentations
- Learn to program with the use of RC cars and RoboCode
- Communicate with other schools and even mentor them trhough competitions
- Work on our website and help us win the FIRST Website Award
- Use advanced software to create our annual safety animation
- And much more…
So, as you can see, FIRST is about you. It’s about helping you learn, grow, develop, and succeed! Now that you’ve seen the features of robotics, why don’t you join? Regardless of the time of year, we always welcome new members! Just talk to one of our officers or come to our Wednesday lunch meeting in room 608 to get involved!
