[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkorWuj7wIc[/youtube]
Soccerbots: Original design robots built with Lego bricks that play soccer. Could it get any better for a kid? My son and daughter competed in a soccerbots competition at Siena College a couple of weeks ago. Michele McColgan a physics professor who is incorporating robots in her curriculum, headed the games. Her own children were teamed with mine against the college students in this informal competition.
The robots were designed with arms that block, hit, shove, or scoop. It was amazing to see how varied each robot was according to what the student thought would be the best way to win at soccer. It was staged in the lounge of the science building, and the crowd kept changing as students and faculty stayed to watch while moving from class to class. Cheers for any goal, “that wasn’t an accident,” my daughter declared. Most of the scores were made, not by cool soccer moves, but by spastic robots.
“Make sure you know how to use your own robot!” Michele reminded everyone. This was after my daughter’s bot flipped, its wheels spinning in the air, my son pressing the wrong button, and a college student holding the controller backwards for half the game.
“I lost my arm!” A college student laughed. Small pieces of Lego bricks littered the elevated wooden playing table at the end of every round. The kids had a great time, thrilled when their robots worked together to make a goal, or block the other team. The college students tried to keep their pride fighting against their younger opponents. Michele was proud of all the students. And I’m just happy my kids get such a cool experience with technology!
