Lightning robots fill Kellogg Park

While Canton 11th grader Alex Graham taught youngsters hydrodynamics in Kellogg Park, another group of P-CEP Lightning Robotics members were at the Gathering letting other kids drive a Frisbee-throwing robot.

“They are testing how much weight before it sinks,” Graham said, of the kids gathered around a wading pool at the at the annual Robots in the Park Sept. 27 in Kellogg Park.

The kids Graham worked with made boats of aluminum foil to learn how many pennies would sink them. “It teaches them to count,” Graham added.

At the Gathering, parent Patrick Hurley, associated with the Pioneer robotics team, as well as programming mentor for the high school team, and Amanda Flechtner, who works with the Discovery and Liberty teams, were on hand with displays of small robots, many Lego-based or those built with Erector sets.

“We are right now designing and building a robot,” Flechtner said.

The youngest kids are also involved with robotics — in a sort of starting-out way. “They start so young because they already have preliminary programming with iPhones and video games,” Hurley said. “We try to give them age-appropriate tasks.”

Robots in the Park drew a good-sized crowd to downtown Plymouth to learn what Lightning Robotics is all about. “The kids and parents are excited. We even have people that don't have kids stopping by our P-CEP robotics Team, Lightning Robotics,” said Charlie Fugate, student event lead.

The students and mentors of Lightning Robotics hosted 10 free, hands-on activities at Robots in the Park, as well as a 3D printer station and information booths. The team’s booster club provided refreshments.

The event got plenty of adults thinking and asking how they could start a FIRST robotics team at their schools. Based on a review of the event, “the team received rave reviews,” said lead marketing mentor Ashley Saunders.

jmaliszews@hometownlife.com | 248-396-6620 | Twitter: @jmaliszews