842 finalist to build a Space Bot

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Carl Hayden High School's Falcon Robotics (team 842) is one of eight finalists chosen by the Pete Conrad Foundation. the Falcons propose to build a small wireless space ROV that the space shuttle and space station can launch and control that transmits a 3D video back to the astronauts.

If there is ever an intergalatic soccer game in space, well, we'll be ready

Here is the press release:

Carl Hayden High School Finalists for Space Innovation Project

Phoenix, AZ, January 13, 2010: John Wellinghoff, the Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, held a special webcast Monday announcing the Pete Conrad Foundation’s Spirit of Innovation Awards Finalist teams. The Carl Hayden High School’s Robotics team is one of eight national finalists in the Aerospace Exploration category. (http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/3916514)

The Falcons propose to build a small portable astronaut-operated vehicle that can maneuver a camera and manipulator about the shuttle or space station to inspect and send video to the astronauts.

The innovators at Carl Hayden developed a 3-D camera and viewing system with the support of Intel in Chandler. They propose to incorporate their 3-D live viewing system in their space camera so space station astronauts can better view and evaluate the external condition of their space abode with their “remote eyes” in space.

Teacher-coach Faridodin “Fredi” Lajvardi received the Pete Conrad Foundation’s news while the students were working on another project, this year’s FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robot for the high school competition in March. Asked if working on an additional robotics task would be too difficult, he stated, “These kids have exceeded all expectations. We are not here to build robots, but to build engineers and scientists. They thrive on authentic challenges with too little resources and an impossible time line.”

As finalists, the team will receive:
• $1000 matching grant – on February 19, 2010, the Conrad Foundation will provide each Finalist team with a grant in the amount equal to what they have raised through their online profile up to $1000.
• Recognition certificates – each student will be provided a certificate officially recognizing them as a Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation Award Finalist.
• Promotional media opportunities – Finalist teams will be provided assistance in connecting with local/regional media outlets to help promote their team.
• Invitation to the Innovation Summit and final awards competition – each finalist team is invited to the Innovation Summit held at NASA’s Ames Research Center, Mountain View, California on April 8 – 12, 2010. The team will have the opportunity to compete for the final awards.
• Portal Consideration – each Finalist team will be considered for the Conrad Portal, a mentoring and educational program designed to assist teams grow as individual innovators, businesspeople and scientists through the practical development of their product ideas.

The project’s chief electrician, Norma Ingoyen, who is graduating in May thinks the biggest challenge will be time management. “I spend a lot of time on my calculus class and our competition robot. Our spacecraft will be a challenge, but we will do it.”

Why did the Carl Hayden kids think they could conquer the space environment? Junior Eduardo Fernandez, chief builder, said, “It’s right up our alley. We build land robots with wheels, underwater ‘bots with propellers so now we will work with thrusters. The basics are the same.”

The Carl Hayden team has become a national model for school engineering programs. In 2008 the extracurricular program was awarded the most prestigious international FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Chairman’s trophy for their competitive robot team who inspires so many students and mentors and has dramatically increased the number of students who enter university science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs. A professionally made video documents some of their inspirational activities. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnzIYVUJzzM)

The Carl Hayden engineers became international phenoms in 2004 when their underwater remotely operated vehicle team bested the nation’s top universities in the MATE underwater robotics competition. (http://www.phxhs.k12.az.us/education...sectionid=3670)
Currently, the Carl Hayden team hosts the National underwater Robotics Challenge held in Chandler each June which attracts elementary and high school teams as well as university and professional clubs. This year’s NURC competition is June 11-13, 2010. (http://www.h2orobots.org/)