AMBLER, PA – The Wissahickon High School robotics team is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Ambler. In order to improve its community outreach program, “Sparky’s Robot World,” the Wissahickon robotics team sought a new sponsor to fund the creation of new robots for use at community events. Kiwanis Club answered the call, with a grant in the amount of $10,000. The partnership supports the robotics team’s outreach program while spreading Kiwanis Club’s mission of “making lasting differences in the lives of children.”
Designed by the Wissahickon robotics team, “Sparky’s Robot World” is a traveling robotics exhibit consisting of three ball-shooting robots and two interactive boards that demonstrate electrical and pneumatic systems. The team designed and constructed each of these components, keeping their goal and audience in mind: to inspire a love of STEM in young children in their community. In the past three years, the team has had over 2,000 members of the community drive a Sparky robot. Built in 2013, these robots are plagued by frequent failures and utilize parts that are no longer available. Technology has advanced greatly in the last ten years and the team has learned more about how to build reliable and serviceable robots in this time.
This fall, the robotics team designed the activities for the new robots to complete and has decided on two styles of robot: a projectile robot and an elevator robot. These two types will allow Sparky’s Robot World participants to learn about the specifics behind these common robotic mechanisms. The robotics team’s goal is to complete the first version of a driveable base in 2023, with construction of the top mechanisms and debut of the refreshed program in summer 2024.
Kiwanis Club of Ambler empowers communities to improve the world by making lasting differences in the lives of children. Kiwanis strives to be a positive influence in communities worldwide — so that one day, all children will wake up in communities that believe in them, nurture them, and provide the support they need to thrive. Visit their website at AmblerKiwanis.org.
FIRST® Robotics Competition Team #341, Miss Daisy is an after-school activity designed to inspire young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, art/design, and math (STEAM). Our team engages in engineering-based tasks, like prototyping, designing (CAD), programming, and testing robots to compete in the FIRST® Robotics Competition, as well as creative application-based learning. The team’s history is rich with important milestones: from being inducted into the FIRST® Robotics Hall of Fame, to traveling to Singapore, United Kingdom, and China, the team strives to give their students impactful experiences that they’ll carry with them throughout their lives. Visit their website at www.team341.com.
FIRST® Robotics Team #341, Miss Daisy
Kirsten Jahn Richardson, Head Coach, kirsten@team341.com
Wissahickon High School, 521 Houston Road, Ambler, PA 19002
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