Future Engineers Summer Camp 2015

A few friends and I are running a summer camp this summer.  It's open to students entering grades 5-8 during the 2015-2016 school year, and everyone in the right age group is welcome to attend, despite their ability levels.  It's a one week camp that runs from 9:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M. at the Little Champs Learning Center in San Jose.  Each day we teach a new real world engineering concept with LEGO Power Functions and LEGO Technic Pieces, giving students an opportunity to learn all while having tons of fun building with LEGO.  This is our second annual year running camp, since our first year was a huge success and we wanted to continue teaching others about our passion.  New this year, we're adding a junior and advanced class so we can accept a wider range of students.  We're still accepting sign-ups so it would be great if you could spread the word!  You can learn more at our website at: https://futureengineerscamp.com/

Double Differential

I've enjoyed using differentials in all the vehicles I make out of lego, so I wondered what would happen if I used two differentials and a third wheel.  Surprisingly, it worked really well!
This is what it looked like:

And this is how it drove:

Future Engineers Summer Camp

I ran a LEGO robotics camp this year with Sameer Kapur and Aashish Kapur.  Camp has came and went, but it was a wonderful experience and I learned so much from teaching my campers.  Each day of camp we taught a different lesson.  On Monday, we explained the basics of power functions, the building platform that I always use when I build.  The campers than built cars and played "Sumo Bots", where the goal was to push the other robot our of the ring.  On Tuesday, we built cars that used rack and pinion steering and a limited slip differential  drivetrain.  On Wednesday, all of the campers had the option to either build a power functions race car, or they could build and program LEGO NXT "Hammerbots".  On Thursday we begin building the long awaited battlebots, and the campers had a chance to race them on Friday.  Overall, it was an amazing week and it was tons of fun to see all of the kids learn and build with LEGO.  It was a lot of fun and a great learning experience, and I can't wait until next year!  Here are some pictures of the campers that attended our second week of camp.

Running a Summer Camp to teach Lego Power Funtions

Some friends and I are running a camp to teach Lego Power Functions and some NXT to middle school students this upcoming week. Camp starts tomorrow, so I'm a little nervous, but I can't wait for it to begin and I think it will be lots of fun!  I'm working with two of my friends, Sameer Kapur and his brother, Aashish Kapur.  They are both very smart and I'm excited to teach with them.  Engineering is my passion, and I want to share it with others, starting with the kids in my community.   It's going to be a great week!  Our camp's website is: futureengineers.webflow.com

Got some new books!

The Unofficial LEGO Technic Builder's Guide by "Sariel"

Hexaflexagons, Probability Paradoxes, and the Tower of Hanoi by Martin Gardner

Science Magic Tricks and Puzzles by Martin Gardner

Entertaining Mathematical Puzzles by Martin Gardiner

So far, these books are all very interesting and informative.

Sariel is an incredible lego builder who has made tons of amazing projects using LEGO power functions.  His website is: sariel.pl

Martin Gardner is considered the father of recreational mathematics, and has written a variety of different works about mathematical puzzles and games.

Lego Marble Run

One day in February I was bored, so I built this really basic marble run using flat panel pieces and the plastic tubes.  Here is a picture and a video if it:

Christmas Gift- 4x4 Crawler!

I haven't posted in a while and its way past Christmas, but this was a gift I got for Christmas and built in a few days.  It's very fun to drive over things because of its great suspension, 4 wheel drive, and 4 wheel steering.  It's powered by two Power functions L motors and uses one Power functions servo motor to turn.