PhD Student at CMU Uses Lego Robots to Help Strengthen Mentor/Child Relationships

Mark Palatucci, a PhD student at CMU, and several colleagues have launched a project designed to encourage and support the exploration of science and technology through hands on robotics experience. 100 Robots for 100 Kids is hoping to raise $25,000 to purchase 100 Lego Mindstorms NXT robot kits and give them to Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) mentor/child matches to build together.

In March 2007, six matches officially kicked off the 100 Robots for 100 Kids project by tackling the assembly of the Mindstorms NXT robot.This initial group had the benefit of several CMU robotics students to lend a hand when things got confusing. Pictures from that Match Activity can be seen on the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh Photo Album.

Observing the initial participants in the 100 Robots for 100 Kids project, it is clear there is a beneficial partnership between BBBS and the group from the Robotics Institute of CMU. With Bigs often looking for new and different things to do with their Littles, the CMU students are hoping the program will ignite an interest in technology and science.

The matches demonstrated that by following some simple instructions and working through the problem together. They were able to create basic robots that beeped, buzzed and rolled all over the place. Their creations will continue to evolve. Through the use of a computer program which is part of the kit, the Bigs and Littles can build on their initial robot to explore limitless options.

While 23 robots have been purchased and distributed to BBBS matches, the students from CMU are in need of funding to reach their goal of putting 100 robots in the hands of 100 BBBS matches. Although off to a good start, they still have a way to go and we want to help them meet their goal.

Please direct friends, family and coworkers to check out the 100 Robots for 100 Kids blog to see what all the excitement is about!