#modrobotics

Modular Robotics is a toy tech company based in Boulder, Colorado. Here, robotic blocks are programmed and assembled with different individual functions. When put together, the blocks accomplish a greater overall operation. The idea and design is based off cooperative systems found in nature.

Mod Robotics represents an emerging category of toys that combine learning with play and prepare young minds for science, technology, engineering and math problem solving. Designed to inspire curiosity, kids are able to experiment with different block combinations that encourage simple invention.

Invention and mimicking systems found in nature are two of tres birds workshop’s core principles, so with shared values in place, we were excited at the opportunity to help Mod Robotics set up their new shop. Lean manufacturing is the name of this game and we worked to get them running in the most efficient way possible. Converting an old mail sorting warehouse, the company now has room for full production and assembly as well as supporting functions such as marketing and sales.

The absolutely amazing Modular Robotics partnered with us to deliver the first in a four part robotics series for our 7-11 age group this morning.  

The Robot Investigators will go from snapping together simple Cubelet blocks, to understanding the functions and forms of robots.  With Cubelets, these students will begin to understand the engineering process, how to solve problems by making things, and the basics of programming and computational thinking. 

When a veteran 7 year old Coder Ninja's father picked him up this afternoon and the father asked how the dojo went, the boy responded eagerly "this was an amazing experience dad!".  Ahhh!  How do you top that? 

Today was inspiration.  I am consistently shocked and amazed by the caliber of the kids that set foot into our dojo.  I set out on this mission to share the joys and adventure of science and technology with the heirs of Colorado, America, and Planet Earth.  The validation of this mission is reinforced exponentially with each subsequent dojo session.

"Software engineers shall act consistently with the public interest", this is the first principle of the Software Engineer's Code of Ethics*.  We, as a people, must make it our mission to put the proper tools into the hands of our children and empower them to confidently face that which lay ahead.

*(http://www.acm.org/about/se-code)

Have you heard of #cubelets ?

Always one to be drawn to any new 'smart' construction kit - cubelets is certainly worth a look. The video was a bit disconcerting until I realised that it wasn't an ad (well it was but it was for cubelets). But you really need the video to 'get' what some of the individual units/cubes actually do.