Robotics Merit Badge

[BlueByte]

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.

[Yan Wang]

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.

[Scooter]

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

-Bill

[Matt]

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.

[BlueByte]

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.

[BlueByte]

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

[Scooter]

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

[BlueByte]

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.

[Aaron Knight]

Originally Posted by Matt

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.

Ditto - me too

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

[Ryan Dognaux]

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

[spadercool]

I agree fully for I am being kicked out in about 2 years

[Kris Mackinnon]

I think it an awsome idea. I rember bits of stuff scout related (used to be a girls scout). I feel that if pulled off it could be one of he top rewards reviced.

[MisterX]

It would be totally awesome to have a robotics merit badge but until then just try to involve in into other meritbadges...

Like we our sponsored by a local Nuclear Power Plant that also hosts a Merit Badge-O-Ree. Among the 15 or 20 merit badges they offer electricty and engineering of which for both we have brought in one of our past robots to show offer various components and let them drive the bot around.

[Nieuport]

They are supposed to release the requirments this year. My guess is that they will be released before the Jamboree, because there is going to be a robotics center their...

[IndySam]

Badge was announce at the Vex World Championship yesterday.