GEARS will be running our SeaPerch underwater robotics camp again this summer.
The camp was sold out last year, and all 16 participants had fun building and running their Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV's) in the cool tank that Garrett Container Systems built us.
Once again we'll be taking 16 lucky kids through this underwater experience where they can build their own robot, and take it home after the camp. They will learn how to assmble a PVC robot frame, waterproof electric motors, solder wires and circuit boards and build attachments for performing specialized tasks.
Submitted by philbot on Tue, 04/14/2009 - 12:24am.FTC Team 2818
Imagine my surprise when Erik Wood told me that our FTC robot was on the FIRST home page.
I had see our buddies 177 (Twisted Bots) in the lower left image, but I hadn't even noticed the inverted 2818 in the shaded image.
That was a pretty cool moment leading up to the finals where we were ascending the ramp, and had deployed our bucket to hold on to the dead robot at the top of the ramp.
Submitted by philbot on Wed, 04/01/2009 - 2:13pm.GEARS
A group of Home Schooled children and their families recently visited GEARS to learn about the robotic activities provided there.
Phil Malone discussed the overall concept of robotics with the families, and then provided a hands-on tour of some of the current activities.
GEARS hosts many activites available to Home Schoolers, including SuGO, various summer tech camps, the SeaPerch Underwater Robotics camp and the recently added FIRST Tech Challenge (seen above).
Submitted by philbot on Wed, 04/01/2009 - 2:07pm.GEARS
Maryland Teachers Of the Year recently came to Garrett County, and as part of their trip, they visited GEARS. Chuck Trautwein gave them a brief history of Science and Technology activities which have developed in the area over the last 15 years, and then they toured the facility. Demonstrations were given for SuGO, the FIRST LEGO League, the FIRST Robotics Competition, and the FIRST Tech Challen
Submitted by philbot on Mon, 03/16/2009 - 3:22am.FRC Team 1629
FRC Team 1629 (GaCo) is shown here celebrating after winning the Engineering Inspiration Award at Pittsburgh Regional FIRST Robotics Competition this weekend.
This award comes with an invitation to compete at the National Championship in Atlanta Georga in April.
The team would like tp thank all it's parents, sponsors, and the Board Of Education for the support the team gets throughout the year.
Submitted by philbot on Tue, 03/10/2009 - 10:38am.
05/07/2009 - 9:00am
05/09/2009 - 5:00pm
FIRST LEGO League team 745 (NeXTGEN) will be competing in the US OPEN in Dayton Ohio in May.
NeXTGEN won this honor by winning the Champions Award at the Pittsburgh FLL Championship event.
The FIRST LEGO® League United States Open Championship is a two and a half day open championship. This championship gives teams from all over the country an opportunity to meet and work together as they experience some unique opportunities in the Dayton area that only an open championship event can offer.
Submitted by philbot on Tue, 03/10/2009 - 10:33am.
04/15/2009 - 4:00pm
04/17/2009 - 4:00pm
FRC Team 2818 (G-FORCE) will be competing in the World Championship in Atlanta Georgia in April.
G-FORCE won the Maryland "Inspire" award, which qualified them for the World Championship. 100 FTC teams will compete in Atlanta so the competition will be fierce.
In addition to winning the Inspire Award, G-FORCE was the third ranked team in MD, and they got all the way to the finals, so there's a good change that they will do well.
Submitted by philbot on Tue, 03/10/2009 - 10:16am.
03/12/2009 - 8:00am
03/14/2009 - 5:00pm
Team 1629 (GaCo) will be competing at the Pittsburgh Regional FIRST Robotics Competition this weekend. The event runs from Thursday to Saturday at the Peterson Center.
37 area teams will be competing, and admission is free.
Practice matches will from from 9:00-5:30pm Thursday
Qualifying matches run all day Friday, and Saturday morning.
Elimination matches run from 1:00 Saturday until clos
The Justin robot is impressive for its ability to dynamically and delicately grab and manipulate objects, performing actions such as pouring a glass or twisting off a cap.
Justin is a collaboration between the University of Napoli and the German Space Agency, DLR under a European project called Physical Human-Robot Interaction: Dependability and Safety. The robot has been known to the public for many months now, but has recently jumped into the spotlight based on its exhibition at CeBIT
Submitted by philbot on Mon, 02/23/2009 - 1:06pm.FTC Team 2818
G-FORCE FTC Team 2818 won the top "Inspire" Trophy at the Maryland State FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Championship this past weekend at the College of Southern Maryland in La Plata, MD. In front, their robot "Philbot" that earned them the "Finalist" (second place) Trophy. First Row: Nathan Tichnell, Mikail Perrine, Aaron Lantz, Kevin Haenftling, and Levi Lantz (pit manager). Second Row: Willie and Arlene Lantz (mentors), Derrick Maust, Kendrick Bender, Bryan Rippeon, Phil Malone (coach), and Stephen Lilly
GEARS occupies 5,000 sq feet of mixed office/workshop space in the town of Accident, Maryland (Garrett County). We support 6 FIRST robotic teams, and a host of other Engineering and Robotics activities. For more information about GEARS, contact Phil Malone ph: 301.387.2331 or email Phil.Malone(at)Mr-Phil(dot)com
