Where are you from, where do you live now, and what school do you attend?
I am from Howard County, Maryland and moved to the Hilo area in my freshman year of high school. Right now I am currently in my senior year at Waiakea High School.
What is your professional & educational background?
I am by trade a musician and have been doing robotics
I am from Howard County, Maryland and moved to the Hilo area in my freshman year of high school. Right now I am currently in my senior year at Waiakea High School.
What is your professional & educational background?
I am by trade a musician and have been doing robotics
as a side hobby for a few years. I have worked as a mentor at the Hilo Youth Robotics summer camp for the past two years. Before that in Maryland, my sister and I worked for my father as councelors and teachers in his martial arts schools.
How did you get into robotics?
I had been into legos ever since I was a little kid and enjoyed being able to work with my hands and head at the same time. Being able to let my imagination take over with the freedom and mobility of legos made it easy for me to get hooked onto robotics. I loved the shows Battlebots and junkyard wars which only furthered my journey into robotics. My mother also got hooked onto robotics with me and with the help of some friends put together a festival similar to Robofest where i got to meet so many people built and competed in what I only got to see on tv. I am currently on Waiakea High Schools robotics team which competes in various robotics competitions such as HURC/MATE, MicroBots, FIRST, & Bot Ball. This will be our most active year yet.
How did you get into robotics?
I had been into legos ever since I was a little kid and enjoyed being able to work with my hands and head at the same time. Being able to let my imagination take over with the freedom and mobility of legos made it easy for me to get hooked onto robotics. I loved the shows Battlebots and junkyard wars which only furthered my journey into robotics. My mother also got hooked onto robotics with me and with the help of some friends put together a festival similar to Robofest where i got to meet so many people built and competed in what I only got to see on tv. I am currently on Waiakea High Schools robotics team which competes in various robotics competitions such as HURC/MATE, MicroBots, FIRST, & Bot Ball. This will be our most active year yet.
What do you enjoy about designing and building robots?
The endless possibilities would probably be what I like the most. Robotics is one of the few things that cannot fit inside a box and constantly changing shape.
Where do you see the future of robot design, construction and implementation?
In ten years I hope that robotics will have become so popular that every household has a robot of somesort. At the rate that the technology is progressing that might not just be a hoop dream and might very well become a reality. The use of robotics in the medical field is already taking root and is only becoming more and more advanced and easier to use.
What does RoboFest mean to you?
To me RoboFest means inspiration. When I see activities and programs like this, I cant help but notice the effect that is has on young children, students, teenagers, and adults. Everyone benefits from the same learning experience and grow in more than just an intellectual sense. Teamwork, critical thinking, social skills, all grow from the ability of having one on one, hands on experiences.
How can young people prepare themselves for, and get involved in robotics?
The easiest way i think to get involved with robotics is to buy a bunch of legos, sit down in your living room and let your imagination run loose. In that moment you will instantly know whether or not robotics is for you. For those of you who enjoy it you may not get up for a long time, and when your done you may have created and demolished and built again so many ideas. If your school has a robotics team or you know of a school that does, join them! Or at least sit in and watch. (we don't bite... usually)
The endless possibilities would probably be what I like the most. Robotics is one of the few things that cannot fit inside a box and constantly changing shape.
Where do you see the future of robot design, construction and implementation?
In ten years I hope that robotics will have become so popular that every household has a robot of somesort. At the rate that the technology is progressing that might not just be a hoop dream and might very well become a reality. The use of robotics in the medical field is already taking root and is only becoming more and more advanced and easier to use.
What does RoboFest mean to you?
To me RoboFest means inspiration. When I see activities and programs like this, I cant help but notice the effect that is has on young children, students, teenagers, and adults. Everyone benefits from the same learning experience and grow in more than just an intellectual sense. Teamwork, critical thinking, social skills, all grow from the ability of having one on one, hands on experiences.
How can young people prepare themselves for, and get involved in robotics?
The easiest way i think to get involved with robotics is to buy a bunch of legos, sit down in your living room and let your imagination run loose. In that moment you will instantly know whether or not robotics is for you. For those of you who enjoy it you may not get up for a long time, and when your done you may have created and demolished and built again so many ideas. If your school has a robotics team or you know of a school that does, join them! Or at least sit in and watch. (we don't bite... usually)
Describe some of the robots you've built or helped build
In the past i only got work with Legos making line followers and "cockroaches" that darted when they sensed light, but last year while competing in the FIRST competition I got the closest to Battle Bots I had ever been. We built a 120 lbs. robot that competed and won the "Rookie All Star Award" which allowed for us to go to nationals in Atlanta, Georgia. (I must admit that was a life changing experience walking out onto the floor of the olympic stadium.)
In the past i only got work with Legos making line followers and "cockroaches" that darted when they sensed light, but last year while competing in the FIRST competition I got the closest to Battle Bots I had ever been. We built a 120 lbs. robot that competed and won the "Rookie All Star Award" which allowed for us to go to nationals in Atlanta, Georgia. (I must admit that was a life changing experience walking out onto the floor of the olympic stadium.)