Cool Toy - Cat-A-Pult

Now here's a toy I know my young roboticists friends would enjoy -- the Cat-A-Pult.
The Cat-A-Pult was invented by Arthur M. Ganson, a sculptor who a decade ago invented a popular toy called Toobers and Zots - bendable, brightly colored foam pieces in whimsical shapes that children can manipulate to create sculptures.

"The idea grew out of a serendipitous thought of just imagining what would happen if you brought together a catapult and a mousetrap and dominoes," Mr. Ganson said. The toy includes a little foam cat, to play on the idea of a catapult.

You set up the five catapults in a series and try to get the foam cats to jump from catapult to catapult setting off a chain reaction. The toy retails for $35 and is a bit hard to find except for at independent toy stores and science museums but its worth search for this cool, challenging toy.

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New Toy: PicoBoard

Playful Invention Company or Pico just released its "PicoBoard" which is a cool way to interface with the easy to learn programming environment "Scratch". Just like Lego Mindstorms, the Picoboard has all kinds of sensors and inputs but instead of creating a robot that interacts with its environment with the Picoboard you can write stories and games that interact with the real world. For example you could turn the pages of your story by blowing on the sound sensor. Or you could create a pressure pad so when someone sits down in front of the computer screen, the story begins. We can't wait to test one out!

-- Ed

Learning by Discovery with Mindstorms Robotics

Video of Mindstorms NXT in use in schools. Learning by discovery.

Vibro-Bots!

As a final robotics club event we did a "Vibro-bot" workshop. Using tiny cell phone motors, button batteries, Altoid tins and a lot of hot glue and other junk, 20 kids managed to create some rather cool vibrating bots that wiggled along the table.

The best toys are the ones you create yourself!

Bionic Arm Wins Top Engineering Prize

See the video

The world's most advanced, commercially available, bionic hand has clinched the UK's top engineering prize.

The i-LIMB, a prosthetic device with five individually powered digits, beat three other finalists to win this year's MacRobert award.

The technology has been fitted to more than 200 people, including US soldiers who lost limbs during the war in Iraq.

The device started life in Scotland in 1963 as part of a project to help children affected by Thalidomide.

The complex device finally went on sale in July 2007. It is produced by a company called Touch Bionics based in Mid Calder, Livingston.
See how the hand works

"It's such a fantastic invention," Ray Edwards, a quadruple amputee and one of the first people in the UK to be fitted with the device, told BBC News.

"When the arm was put on, I had tears rolling down my face. It was the first time in 21 years that I had seen a hand open.

"I can do a thumbs-up, I can hold a pen and I can do many things that I couldn't do before."

See how it works

NEXT UP: FLL

*Planning ahead:* First Lego League - Starting Wed. Sept 3rd!

*/What is First Lego League?/
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FIRST LEGO League (FLL) is an exciting and fun global robotics program that ignites an enthusiasm for discovery, science, and technology in kids ages 9 to 14 (16 outside of the U.S. and Canada).

Each year FLL teams embark on an adventurous Challenge based on current, real-world issues. Guided by a team coach and assisted by mentors, the kids:

* Research and solve a real-world problem based on the Challenge theme
* Present their research and solutions
* Build an autonomous robot using engineering concepts

Using the yearly Challenges, FLL:

* Entices kids to think like scientists and engineers
* Provides a fun, creative, hands-on learning experience
* Teaches kids to experiment and overcome obstacles
* Builds self-esteem and confidence
* Inspires kids to participate in science and technology

No matter what the child’s subject interest, FLL offers an opportunity for engagement. Whether it is by creativity, technology, or research, FLL dares kids to test, explore, expand, or completely change thoughts and approaches for different sciences each year.

*/The 2008 Challenge: Building a Global Game Plan/*

Embark on an exploration of the earth's climate in the FIRST LEGO League's 2008 Climate Connections Challenge! Discover the links between science, people, resources and communities. Unearth how we learn about past climates and delve into questions surrounding our current and future climatic conditions. Join FIRST LEGO League teams in creating a global game plan as they make these Climate Connections!
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Meetings:* Monday & Weds after school
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Competition:* Dec. 13th at the MMA in Castine

*More info:*

Official Site: www.usfirst.org
Maine Robotics: http://www.mainerobotics.org/firstlegoleague.html
Tremont Roboitcs: http://tremont-robotics.blogspot.com/

*FLL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING WEDS SEPT 3rd*