Robotics Merit Badge
 

Hey-
I am an active Boy Scout in addition to being addicted to Robotics. Many of the members of my troop have become interested in the field since the Championship event. I have become interested in organizing/creating a Robotics Merit Badge.
It is an ambitious undertaking, but not an unprecedented one. Steven Spielberg felt that there should be a merit badge focusing on the art of cinematography. He felt so strongly about it that he sponsored an application to the national council. His request was approved and thus was born the Cinematography badge. I think that with the support of Dean Camen we could successfully petition for the creation of a Robotics Merit Badge.
I don't know if anyone else is interested in this possibility, but since Chief Delphi is one of the more active online communities I thought it would be wise to gather support here for the idea first. So go ahead and let me know what you think of the idea.

Re: Robotics Merit Badge
 

He won't support you if you spell his name wrong. ;)

But I think it'd be a great idea. One of my friends is an avid boy scout. Due to his commitment to that, he doesn't have the time to join robotics. A robotics merit badge would give him more experience.

Re: Robotics Merit Badge
 

As an Eagle Scout, I'd love to help. Let me know what I can do.

-Bill

Re: Robotics Merit Badge
 

I believe there is time for both. I am an eagle scout and was on robotics. I believe that it is something that could go in tandem.

Re: Robotics Merit Badge
 

Well I suppose the first step would to be coming up with the basic requirments for the merit badge. I think it should cover the basics of Robotics. It has got to cover electronics, drive train and programming. The desgin process should be thrown in thier too.
Centering the Merit Badge around a project would help tie all the components togther, not to mention making it easy for FIRST particapants to earn. At the same time it needs to stay flexible enough that people with no contact with FIRST can earn it with relative ease.
I will try and get a basic write up done. I will either post it here or possibly in the White Papers section.

Re: Robotics Merit Badge
 

Uh, forgot to post this in my last one....sorry about messing up Dean's name. I am a horrible speller.

Re: Robotics Merit Badge
 

Following the current merit badge structure, I would propose something along thses lines.

1. Explain the basic functions and subsystems of a robot and what each do.

2. Explain robotics's impact on the world.

3. Explain 3 uses for robotics.

4. Do one of the following:
A. Visit a facility that uses robotics.
B. Construct a robot out of Lego's to achieve a simple task autonomously.
C. Visit a local FIRST team.

5. Explain the robotics design process.

6. Explain 3 ways that robots directly affect your life.

I'm sure I'm leaving something out....I need feedback....Watcha think?

-Bill

Re: Robotics Merit Badge
 

I think the requirments should be along this line.

1. Explain the current uses of Robotics

2. Explain the Desgin Proccess and disscuss it's applications to robotics.

3a. use the desgin process to desgin a robot to acomplish a task set by your merit badge consolor.
3b. Explain the uses of electonics in your project robot and comercial robots.
3c. Disscuss what machinary would be required to maufacture the project robot.
3d. Create a Timetable for creating your project robot.
3e. Determine the price for creating your project robot.

4. Visit a organazation that uses robots (Comercial Plant, Police Station, FIRST team)

5a. Research difrent programs that encourage the use of robotics.
5b. Give a 5 min presentation on one of the programs to your troop.

Re: Robotics Merit Badge
 

Will,
There is already a robotics merit badge in the works. I know that a former Motorola employee is pusuing this with the national office. He spoke to me about it last year. It couldn't hurt to follow it up with a letter to national asking about the progress just to help it along.

Re: Robotics Merit Badge
 

I am glad to see this. There are already several merit badges that have requirements that relate to robotics. A single merit badge to tie everything together is certainly needed.

Hmmm Our Council limits merit badge counselors to being registered for six merit badges at a time. I still have one slot open, think I could qualify? :D

ChrisH
Assistant Scoutmaster Troop 4673, Pacifica District, LA Council
Merit Badge Councilor for:
Cycling
Pioneering
Emergency Preparedness
Engineering
Modeling

Among other responsibilities

PS gwross, Chief Delphi's local grammar curmudgeon, is our Scoutmaster

Re: Robotics Merit Badge
 

I am also very active in Boy Scouts and FIRST Robots. A Robots merit badge would a great thing.

Re: Robotics Merit Badge
 

A Robotics Merit Badge would be a nice way to bring in new Team members and expand FIRST's exposure as well. I was attracted to FIRST by the common underlying FIRST and BSA precepts.

For the past few FIRST seasons our Troop SPL & ASPLs have happened to be on the Team. A quarter of our Team is typically made up of Scouts in any given year, and two of the adult mentors are also Scoutmasters. Our Troop schedule miraculously complements the FIRST travel schedule, however, the Scouts tend to disappear for several long weekends during the FIRST build season.

All my MB counselor slots are filled, but I can drop a little used MB and replace it with a Robotics MB.

Scoutmaster Troop 343
Matinecock District
Suffolk County Council
Hauppauge, NY

Re: Robotics Merit Badge
 

As an Eagle Scout, let me know what I can do to help...

Re: Robotics Merit Badge
 

Ditto - me too :)

I'm still a registered scouter with my original troop now - Troop 27 out of Syracuse. This would be interesting :D

Re: Robotics Merit Badge
 

Sounds awesome, if you need any help feel free to ask me. :]