Mid East robotics team visits Byesville Rotary

Pictured: Mr. Stingel, Mid East instructor—computer support program; Justine Kirk, Caleb McElroy, Joey Burrell--Mid East students; and Becky Bruner, Speaker Chair.

Mr. Stingel, instructor, at the Mid East Career and Technology Center Buffalo Campus, accompanied by three students in the Computer Support Program introduced the Mid East robot to the Byesville Rotary.

Mid East students are preparing for a competition against students from other schools with a robotics program. The team--Justine Kirk, Caleb McElroy, Joey Burrell—began with a robotics kit. Once they finished constructing the basic robot, they began customizing their robot. Their goal is to build a robot that will meet the challenges of the competition. They will customize the robot by writing programs or apps—they use the term “coding” to refer to this process

The students have written code that directs the robot to move through a series of sequential moves on its own with no input from the human operator. For example, the robot knows how to move straight forward for 2 seconds and then stop. It can also do push-ups. More code needs written. The students need to “teach” their robot how to pick items off the floor by writing a code that will lower the robot arm very close to the floor and grasp the object needing picked up.

The students also exhibited some of the objects they have created using a 3-D printer. This activity also requires programming skills. Mid East students are learning today the skills that businesses will need in the near future.

Mid East has a hands-on approach to education. The Computer Support Program offers lots of opportunities for students to learn by doing. As we all know, cranky, misbehaving computers are frustrating to deal with. One focus of the Computer Support Program is teaching students how to provide customer service. This element of the training program at Mid East encourages students to apply their knowledge about installing, configuring, upgrading, troubleshooting and repairing microcomputer hardware and software in real-life situations. Computers needing servicing are welcome at Mid East.

Byesville Rotary at: www.Byesvillerotary.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Byesville-Rotary/256548047818283. The club meets 7:30 am, Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Walk-ins are welcome at the club’s meeting.