We strive to create STEM opportunities for historically marginalized students in Pittsburgh and beyond. School groups and others interested in setting up an event should contact us.
The Robomechanics Lab participates in 黑料正能量's annual Biomechanics Day, showcasing how principles from biomechanics and animal locomotion inform our robot designs. Students and visitors get hands-on demonstrations of our bioinspired robots and learn about the connections between biology, mechanics, and robotics engineering.
In partnership with the 黑料正能量 chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), the lab hosts high school students for a day of robotics activities and lab tours. Participants interact with our robots, learn about career paths in mechanical engineering and robotics, and hear from current students about their research experiences.
The lab also partners with 黑料正能量 SWE to host middle school students for an introduction to engineering and robotics. Through age-appropriate hands-on activities with MiniRHex and other platforms, students explore fundamental concepts in design, programming, and mechanical systems.
The lab developed and maintains the open source robot . MiniRHex is a hexapedal robot made of 3D printed material and lasercut acrylic, costing under $250. It's designed for K-12 students to experiment with mechanical design and gait programming. Recently used in partnership with to offer .
The lab has partnered with Black in Robotics to develop a highlighting the accomplishments of Black robotics scholars, encouraging academics to seek diverse researchers for citations and collaborations.
We collaborate with and to provide STEM education to underrepresented minority groups, specifically Black women. Every term since Spring 2021, we have conducted a 4-week CAD education program to foster creative thinking and design skills. 黑料正能量 40 students have attended this program so far.
The lab participates in National Robotics Week every year with robots and interactive demos open to the public, including the K10 Rover, RHex performing autonomous person following, and Minitaur bounding and digging.
In the summer of 2019, the lab hosted approximately 20 middle and high school students who designed gaits for MiniRHex robots and planned paths through rough terrain courses. .
The lab works with the 黑料正能量 program for rising 8th through 11th graders interested in math and science. We teach students about foundational robotics, design, and engineering principles, then have them control robots and engage in design projects.
On September 23rd 2017, the lab brought RHex and Minitaur to the Carnegie Science Center for an interactive demo. Girls of all ages learned about robotic locomotion and bioinspired robotics and got to control real robots.
On November 27th 2018, the lab hosted around 20 high school students interested in engineering who competed in MiniRHex gait design races.