SARA TRAMIEL/VIEWRobert Taylor Elementary School fifth-grader Lindsey Kelai, right, shows sponsor Stan Smith of Pioneer Chemical her robot, EVE, or Educational Vehicle Extraordinaire.
SARA TRAMIEL/VIEWRobert Taylor Elementary School first-graders check out Kranius, a hand-activated robot belonging to Analicia Snapp-Purcella, 10, right. The first-graders are, from left, Cheyenne Acevedo, Amaya Bowles, Yailyn Jimenez, Jania King and Vanessa Skaggs.
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Fourth- and fifth-grade students at Robert Taylor Elementary School run up to parents and fellow students while waving pamphlets displaying this year's science project. Some miniature robots scurry through tiny mazes, others hang by their mechanical arms on ropes, and one lies disassembled in pieces on the table in front of the science teacher, Larry Pilan.
Such was the scene on May 22 at the Henderson school, when the Robert Taylor Robot Club held its first robotic demonstrations for students, parents and representatives from local engineering companies.
"I was just amazed. I can't believe I got in this (club)," fifth-grader Genephere Mata said as she tugged on the rope her small red robot, COJR, hung from.
Genephere's objective was to get her robot to climb around an angle formed by two intersecting ropes. She said the task took her about a week to figure out. As she claps to start her robot moving again, its arms hook around the corner, and it swings onto the next rope.
"This is one of the coolest robots I've seen. They're all cool," she said.
Sixteen students, consisting of 15 girls and one boy, participated in the science fair, which was the culmination of three months' work.
The students met two days a week for an hour after school, and three days after school for the past few weeks before the science fair. Club members had to write a report on robots, take a test and maintain a C average to stay in the club. In addition, Pilan said, the students had to show they could handle frustration, a common emotion for scientists to feel.
"I've instilled in them the value that scientists do not fail. They will find 100 ways not to do it and one way to do it," Pilan said.
Pilan said the students were expected to do everything on their own without the aid of parents. The students were given the instruction booklet that came with the robot kit and were expected to assemble the pieces. Their teachers only worked on the electronic board by soldering wires.
The students' independent work was apparent, Pilan said.
"They (the robots) do break down," he said.
Pilan said the students learned about how motors and gears work and how to read an instruction book to put them together.
"I don't believe this has been done before at this age," he said.
Next year, Pilan said, the children will work with Lego robots in third grade, learn an introduction to robots in fourth grade and take intermediate robotics in fifth grade. Pilan said he has talked to the principal of Brown Middle School about starting a robotics program there, but is unsure whether it will happen.
The program this year was funded by the local offices of Timet, Pioneer Americas and Tronox Inc. After representatives from the companies attended the robotics fair, Pilan said, they offered to donate even more money for next year.
"They know the value of it," Pilan said.
Rick Stater from Tronox said he was impressed with the students' performance.
"Kids are interested in science if you can get them involved," he said. "Hopefully, this will be like a disease and spread."
Stater said all companies have the need for female engineers.
"We're happy to support (Pilan). Someday maybe one of these folks, we'll hire," Stater said.
Alicia Cuellar, a fourth-grader, already has a connection to one of the companies. Her grandfather works at Timet. Alicia built two robots, one of which ran on solar power. She said she plans to work more with solar power next year.
"When I first got it working, I was jumping around," Alicia said of SPEG, or, Solar Powered Energized Gears.
Fifth-grader Melissa Grenier's robot could follow a path drawn on the floor. She also programmed the robot to draw mathematical shapes, such as the number nine.
"If somebody asked me, I would definitely give this (the club) a 10 out of 10," Melissa said.
Emilio Arizmendi was the only boy in the club. Emilio said being the only boy was weird. His robot, SAAMER, Specialized Articulated Action Mechanical Educational Robot, found its way out of a maze by sensing walls around it.
"It was hard and fun," Emilio said.
Fourth-grade teacher Jackie Wohlt was one of the teachers who worked with the students in the robotics club.
"They came together and just did a phenomenal job," Wohlt said.
Pilan said the community is going to be hearing more about the children in this year's robotics club in the future, especially once the students are old enough to be in the FIRST Robotics competition held each year at UNLV.
"Basic High School is going to win first place," he said.
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