Our lab collaborated with Technology Alliance of Central New York (TACNY) and rolled out the first summer program for students entering 6th-9th grades, STEM Trekkers in 2022. The program is free and open to any student with interest in science, technology, engineering, and math. We offer a comprehensive, unique, and rigorous STEM interactive educational experience that piques students’ interest in STEM and seek to highlight the crossover between industry and education in our community.

The theme for 2022 workshop was Robotics Engineering, Design and Coding. 40 students attended the workshop and they were given 20 quadrupedal robot kits (Bittle from Petoi). During the two-day workshop at SU, they learned how to design a robot, build the robot, program the robot using a graphical interface called TinkerGen, and control the robot to shake head, to walk in different directions. We also had a soccer competition on the 2nd day to let the students test and compete with their robots.

Addtionally, they had a tour to our lab at SU and the local robotic company Ramboll Inc. located in Liverpool, NY. The workshop was a great success this year and we plan to hold this program again next year. Please contact us through TACNY’s website if you want to sign up for the event of next year. https://www.tacny.org/trekkers/