A High-tech Home for Chadwick Robotics
September 23 was a red-letter day for the Chadwick robotics program, thanks to the generosity and far-sightedness of an anonymous donor and the Chadwick Parents’ Association (CPA). A festive ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception that aſternoon marked the grand opening of a long-awaited dedicated robotics laboratory on campus.
In the past, the Chadwick Robotics Team operated as a
co-curricular club and lacked dedicated space on campus. Tat all changed this year with the addition of a robotics engineering course to the science curriculum and the well- equipped robotics suite. Te 560-square-foot laboratory boasts a bank of 12 laptop
computers, an entire wall dedicated to parts and materials, a large open space for testing robotic prototypes, an industrial band saw, a bench-top drill press, and raised workbench-style tables. High-speed wireless access is available throughout the facility, which is located between the Village School and the main administrative building. Te curriculum provides a comprehensive study of engineering concepts including physics, programming, mechanical systems, and electrical and electronic systems. It uses Vex Robotics hardware and easyC robotics programming soſtware. Robotics engineering teacher and Chadwick Robotics
Team Advisor Patricia “Trish” Stevens, Ph.D. is inspired by the expanded possibilities for robotics signified by the laboratory and official course status. “I’m excited, and the students are excited,” says Stevens.
“Tis is an amazing giſt that is already benefiting students in a big way. We are extremely grateful to the CPA and to our wonderful donor for their generous support of our robotics program.”
36 THE COMPASS Te robotics team is off to a successful start this year with
3 of 8 robots placing in the top 10 at the first regional Vex competition. As of mid-November, the team is ranked second in the VEX High Desert League. Teir goal of qualifying for the VEX World Championships is well within reach as they devote both class time and Saturdays to refining their robots. “I also want to thank Upper School Director Mark
Wiedenmann, Upper School Librarian Jane Terry, and team parents Frank Taulli and Rick Briles for their ongoing support of robotics,” says Stevens. “We have more students pursuing robotics this year than ever before, and they have already completed eight robots versus the three we were able to build last year. I know the team will accomplish great things with the benefit of these added resources.”
Follow the progress of the Chadwick Robotics Team on their
website at
https://sites.google.com/site/chadwickroboticsteam/ Above: The Chadwick Robotics Team with Robotics
Engineering teacher Patricia “Trish” Stevens, Ph.D. Seated, front row, left to right: Lydia Krauss ’15 and Zack Herbst ’14. Seated, second row, left to right: David Harris ’14, Zach Briles ’13, and Dominic Grande ’14. Standing, back row, left to right: Meghan Hood ’13, Ryan Goy ’14, Wayne Chou ’14, Jonathan Renslo ’12, Dr. Stevens, Tyler Briles ’13, and Bryan Deister ’13.
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