Eisenhower Robotics Club
Robots are where computers meet the real world.
Robots take many different forms, for many different
purposes. Some do jobs that people can’t, and some
explore new places. Some are made for the fun of
learning and experimenting, and that’s what our club is
all about.
The Eisenhower Robotics club is a chance to explore many different things, depending on your
interest. The robots are a combination of mechanisms, computers, and software programming,
so the club is a chance for students to explore any one or all of those, plus other areas.
In our club we experiment with different robots and their programming, to master a table-top
playing field. Students take part in a First Lego League competition where they design different
robots from kits of parts and then program them to do specific tasks on the playing field. They
try out many different—and wildly creative!—robot designs and different software programs to
learn what works best.
The First Lego League competition is much more than the table-top tasks. There is a creative
problem-solving section where the students choose a problem, plan how to solve it, and choose
an innovative and effective way to explain their ideas. Then they make a presentation and field
questions from friendly experts (judges), to explain their robot software and hardware strategy.
Interested in the club?
The club meets for most of the school year, on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons after school.
Space is limited, so don’t miss our first information meeting on Tuesday September 22nd.
For more information contact Ms. Murphy at Eisenhower Middle school.
First Robotics Club Meeting
Tuesday September 22nd
3:00 PM, Ms. Murphy’s Science Classroom D105
A chance to explore your own interests
The robot competition itself is not our only focus. Our overall goal is to experiment and
experience and explore, to learn and to have fun. We’ll be able to follow our curiosity and we
have room for members to specialize in areas that interest them. Some examples:
Software programming. Our robots are autonomous. That means they use pre-stored
programs that we create and refine to accomplish the tasks we choose. Once we start them
in a round of competition, they respond to their environment and make decisions to
navigate around the tabletop playing field and perform the tasks. Programmers will create
the instructions that take information from the robot sensors and make this happen.
Mechanical design. Our robots are made from a selection of standardized parts including
motors, sensors (including vision and touch sensors and gyroscopes) and manipulators.
These elements can be set up in an infinite number of ways, but only some will work.
Figuring out what works and what doesn’t is critical!
Robot competition rules and strategy. The First Lego League has a number of rules to
make the competition fun and fair. We’ll need to understand them well, and combine this
understanding with the hardware and software to decide the best ways to accomplish our
tasks and get the best point total. A club expert or two could make a big difference.
Robots and our human world. Laws and regulations and concerns about robots are
changing fast, as robot technology advances. For example, robot drones are restricted in
several different ways and self-driving cars (big robots!) are only allowed in some cities
and only with restrictions. This is a chance to explore the intersection of law and culture
and technology.
Who: All Eisenhower middle school students. Maximum 20 students – Space is limited!
We are especially interested in making robotics available to those not in Unified Arts.
Robotics club members must have an ASB card
When: Meet each week after school, from 3:00 pm to 4:30pm, Tues. and Thurs.
Where: Eisenhower Middle School, Ms. Murphy’s classroom (D105)
Transportation: Students who need it will be taken home by bus *First 2 weeks – there are no
buses. Students must be picked up by an adult.
Other Questions: See Ms. Murphy for details or more information
Robotics club flyer 9-2015
.docx