Robotics Workshop

On Saturday, April 6th, we hosted our Robotics Workshop at UCSD! During the workshop, the girls were able to code LEGO EV3 Mindstorm robots to complete a variety of different tasks like drawing and sensing colors. To start out the workshop, Serena and Audrey (the leaders) taught the girls about what robotics is and how it’s used in the real-world — for everything from vacuum cleaners to hospital tasks. Then Dr. Eguchi, a UCSD professor who helped organize the workshop, told the girls about different robotics opportunities they have at their disposal, as well as emphasized the importance of robots in today’s world. 

Next, Serena and Audrey gave the girls an introduction to Mindstorms — the application they used during the workshop to code their robots. After the intro, the girls got started on coding. They problem-solved and worked in groups to get their robots to travel back and forth, turn, and move in different shapes like squares and circles. After completing the challenges, the workshop leaders gave a brief introduction to sensors (specifically touch and color ones), and then it was time for snack break. 

After filling up on some delicious cookies and bananas, it was time for everyone to get back to work! The girls worked with color sensors and coded their robots to stop at black tape, as well as make a square along black tape that the sensor was coded to not touch. Then, for the final activity, the girls combined their knowledge from previous challenges to get their robots to draw. They used legos and rubber bands to make their own pen holders, then got their robots to draw different shapes on poster boards—both old shapes they’d already coded for as well as new ones. After finishing their robot-made art, the girls posed with their creations and some even got to take them home. Overall, it was another successful and educational AGSS workshop.

​Be sure to look our for our next workshop, the annual All Girls Math Tournament, on May 18th from 1:45pm-5:30pm!