Submerging robots
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on March 29, 2016 1:46 PM
A $4,000 Lowe's grant is giving an engineering class at Charles B. Aycock High School the opportunity to build underwater robots that will eventually be shared with the YMCA summer camp students.
"We're going to build underwater ROVs (remotely operated vehicles) -- we got 10 kits and were able to buy two 3-D printers," explained technology education and engineering teacher Steven Thorne. "We're going to take them over to the YMCA and build an underwater obstacle course."
His second-year Principles of Engineering students this past week started working in pairs, creating their own miniature robots. They used the predesigned kits, which can be customized, while the 3-D printers allow them to print additional parts for the rover.
Thorne experienced the concept firsthand at a conference he attended. After building a prototype himself, he thought it would be a project his students would enjoy so wrote a grant.
He has had much success in grant writing since the Project Lead the Way Engineering Academy was introduced at CBA nearly eight years ago. Thorne has been the recipient of grants that have enabled his students to create such projects as a Hovercraft chair, PVC car, robots and solar panels.
His success has also translated into accolades in the district, including his being named 2015 teacher of the year, first for CBA and then the high school teacher of the year, as well as being the current Career and Technical Education (CTE) high school teacher of the year.
The engineering classes have gained momentum in popularity over the years, with a waiting list to get in. Once male-dominant, the number of female students is also on the rise, Thorne said.
"It's growing with the girls," he said. "My program's just become a lot more popular because the kids are seeing the extra things that we do."
Thorne's own children have also been beneficiaries of the program. His son, Andrew, graduated from CBA and is pursuing engineering in college while daughter, Emily, a sophomore, is in her second year in the program.
The latest project, while not part of the basic curriculum, fits right in, said Thorne, incorporating things like electricity and wiring.
"So right now, I'm going over the purpose of electricity and how electricity works and different kinds of circuits," he said, "All I teach, everything I teach, is STEM-related.
"This is just an enhance on top of that. I teach them electrical things and how electronics work."
They also have a book to go by, he said. Put out by a company called SeaPerch, the program is something used by the Navy to promote the Office of Naval Research.
"It's that same type like they use to explore the shipwreck in the bottom of the ocean," he said, likening it to ones used to resurrect the Titanic. "On a very small scale, it's basically a mini, unmanned submarine."
Sophomores in the class raved about the project, and their reasons for enrolling.
"I mostly like the math, I'm just into it," said Nick Meza.
"I'm more of a hands on person," said Michael Masciave. "I love projects like this."
Masciave, whose intent is to pursue studies in agricultural or mechanical engineering, admitted it was something he hadn't seriously given much thought to before the class last year exposed him to the field, and he found he liked it.
Drilling holes in a PVC pipe, wiring the mesh sheet with twist ties and working with housing the motor in a small plastic film canister also enthralled Josh Parrish and Seth Lazarus, who were collaborating on the project.
The classmates admitted it wasn't easy -- they made a few mistakes, but even the mistakes produced a learning opportunity, they said.
"It's just being able to do something other than sit in front of the computer," Josh said.
Meredith Jones said she likes the class because of its hands on component, while her class partner, Emily Thorne, is looking forward to when they get to test out the finished product. They also agreed that while so much of the program includes trying new things, they are not afraid of the unknown.
"I enjoy learning new things," Miss Jones said. "It will be a new skill. If we learn it now, we can take it with us."
Upon completion, the fun part begins -- sharing the finished product with others.
"Once we get them built, we'll have an in-house competition," Thorne said. "My plan is to try to do some competitions amongst ourselves between now and the end of the year."
There is also the potential for a community outreach, he said.
"We're going to go to the Y, let them practice with them, let them try to compete through an obstacle course," he said. "We're working to arrange to try to carry what kids we can, put on basically a little demo.
"It's an ongoing thing for the summer with the YMCA with their day camp. We're going to let my kids go and explain the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education and allow those kids to operate the robot and go through the obstacle course."
The extended option will not only benefit his students but expose the program to the surrounding community, he said.
"One, it gives my kids a chance to do some community service," he said. "And it gives the other little kids a chance to see what's going on in this program."