Cathy Lechmaier was the student life coordinator of South Campus for 39 years. When she retired in 2016, the same year as the makerspace project, Student Goverment felt it fitting to name the makerspace, a place of learning and exploration, after someone who devoted their life to helping students expand their horizons through MATC.
Coding and computer literacy are important skills. By providing access to robotics in the Makerspace, students have opportunities to problem solve, learn coding, and have hands-on experiences with robots.
Cubelets are pre-programmed robot blocks that can be re-programmed using . Each of the 17 types of Cubelets has a special skill. When they’re combined, the robot-building possibilities are endless.
We have developed a 90 minute team-building session focusing on communication, critical thinking, and problem solving, incorporating Cubelets which can be presented in the Makerspace. Please contact us for details if interested in scheduling a session for your team.
Evo is an app-connected robot with a surprising creative spark. Evos can be coded with OzoBlockly or using color codes drawn on a plain surface. Evos are social robots which will interact with each other and with the user, and display their emotions to users using sound and light.
Evos are one of the many robots featured in our one hour Roboversity program, a social science based learning experience which features the use of robots to open up discussions about diversity.
We have six different VEX-constructed robots which can be coded to perform a variety of tasks. One of our VEX-based robots has a controller which can be attached to control the robot without prior coding. These robots are all slight modifications of VEX robot builds.
There are also additional parts which can be used to gain mastery of the robotics creation. Please note: existing robots should only be modified by or with Makerspace Robotics Staff.
We have Sphero Bolts which can be coded using the Sphero EDU app. These robotic balls can be programmed using Scratch blocks or with JavaScript. They have several programmable sensors, including Infrared, Compass, Light, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, and Motor Encoders, as well as an 8x8 LED matrix panel. They are Bluetooth connected for up to a 100 foot range. Inductive charging means that the seamless sphere can be placed onto the charging pad in any direction to recharge. Top speed is 4.5 MPH.
JD Humanoid is the latest robot to join our robocrew. JD is an EZ Robot that uses EZ-Builder software to program movement, speech, and many other controls available that bring life to JD. Tutorials on using JD can be found here:
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