All together now! In this studio, students will be exploring the intricacies of swarm behavior through the design and fabrication of small robots that work together to achieve a common goal.  Swarm robotics is a field of study that uses the various phenomena of swarm behavior in nature to inform the programming of groups of robots.  Biologically, some species are programmed to exist as solo operators, but others, such as types of insects, birds, and fish, operate collectively as swarms.  Think about the way ants work together to build a colony or how bees band together to protect their queen— these are examples of swarm behavior.

Robot swarms have the potential to be used in a vast number of ways in the future, especially in circumstances where it’s difficult or inefficient for humans to complete a task.  Applications could include autonomous building construction, construction in remote places (like building a seawall to prevent flooding), disaster assessment under dangerous conditions, and many others in manufacturing, science, and art.  

This summer, students will learn about swarm robotics by building simple robots that will work together.  This studio will teach basic robotics, electronics, programming, and 3D design.  Students will have the opportunity to work with Arduino, motors, sensors and 3D modeling and fabrication tools to create performative, robotically developed artwork.

Focus Skills/Subjects/Technologies:

   Design

   Physics (Electricity, Magnetism)

   Engineering

   Programming

   Electronics

   Robotics (Arduino)

   Sensors & Actuators

   Digital Fabrication (Laser-cutting, 3d Printing)

   3d Modeling

Prerequisites:

• Enrolling students must be between the ages of 11 to 18