Keep Our Robotics Team on the Cutting Edge of Technology
Help me give my students a safe and effective laser cutter to foster their tech skills and creativity while helping them remain competitive at a national level.
The students in my robotics club are some of the most intelligent, curious, creative, and caring young adults I have ever encountered. I have been coaching robotics and teaching physics for 7 years and these students are continuing to push well past my knowledge of robotics and computer programming. These students are very globally conscious and frequently discuss automation's roll in potentially solving problems like the Fukushima nuclear waste clean up and eliminating plastics in the world's oceans. They also discuss the potential for automation to permanently change our economy by replacing jobs.
These students have quickly outgrown our materials and deserve the tools and kits that will help them continue to thrive in their robotics and technical education.
I would love for them to have new materials for digitally programmable robotics and learning kits to help all of us learn more advanced robotics together. The tools requested will also allow the students to help other clubs like the maker club and Science Olympiad with their projects.
My Project
The laser cutter will be shared between the Robotics Team, Engineering Classes, Science Olympiad Team, and Maker Club. Each club has a countless number of unique needs that will be addressed by the laser cutter but the students will be able to collaborate with the common skills required for laser cutting.
All of the students involved will benefit from gaining and honing CAD skills, understanding of material properties and limitations, technical communication skills, and applications of the iterative process in making things.
These skills will help prepare students for a future that is becoming more technologically dependent. We also hope that this will attract new students to clubs that would normally not be interesting in technological extracurriculars.
Additionally, to be competitive at the national level in both of our robotic leagues (MATE Robotics and FIRST Tech Challenge) we need the ability to make custom designed structural parts. Our robotics team made it to the FIRST Tech Challenge State Championship this year which was an amazing experience but also a big wake up call about our limited abilities with stock parts. This tool will allow me to my narrative from "that's a great idea but we cannot afford those parts" to "that's a great idea, let's figure out how to make those parts!"
Glowforge Plus 3D Laser Printer - Fast, Simple, Beautiful Custom Wood, Leather, Craft, DIY, and Hobby Laser Cutting & Engraving On Your Desktop
• Amazon Business
ELEGOO Arduino Project,Penguin Bot Arduino Biped Robot Kit with Assembling Tutorial,STEM Kit for Hobbyists, STEM Toys for Kids and Adults, Black Version
• Amazon Business
$59.99
2
$119.98
28945-0006 - Clear Acrylic Sheet - 12" x 24", 0.250" thick
• Blick Art Materials
$29.35
4
$117.40
ELEGOO UNO Project Smart Robot Car Kit V 3.0 with UNO R3, Line Tracking Module, Ultrasonic Sensor, IR Remote Control Module etc. Intelligent and Educational Toy Car Robotic Kit for Kids Teens
• Amazon Business
$54.99
2
$109.98
Materials cost
$4,538.86
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$68.08
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$4,636.94
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$818.28
Total project goal
$5,455.22
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$5,455.22
9 Donors
-$5,453.46
Donations toward project cost
-$4,636.94
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Clayton and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
