Patria Lincoln

Robotics is the way of the future, and women are leading the way for some of the most helpful technologies! For young girls, strong role models are key! From Ada Lovelace, the world's first computer programmer, to women involved in robotics today, this list of female leaders is sure to inspire kids to consider robotics as a future career.

The World's First Programmer - Ada Lovelace

Ada Lovelace lived in the early 1800's and saw something others didn't see: that machines could be involved in complex computing. She published the very first algorithm for a machine.

Programming Pioneer - Grace Brewster Murray Hopper

Grace Brewster Murray Hopper was an American computer scientist who lead the way in computer programming in the 20th century.  Hopper and her team also invented the Common Business-Oriented Language (COBOL), which is still widely used today.

Robotics Pioneer - Ruzena Bajcsy

For 40 years, Professor Ruzena Bajscy has been leading robotics research. Now in her mid-80's, she also continues to teach at the University of California, Berkeley. Her area of research is the communication between machines and people.

Can Robots Improve Life? - Dr. Maja Matarić

Dr. Maja Matarić directs the Interaction Lab at the University of Southern California. Her vision is to improve quality of life for people with special needs with affordable human-centered technologies since their medical expenses can be very high.

Human-Centred Robots - Ayanna Howard

Ayanna Howard is the most senior African-American female roboticists involved in higher education in the United States. Her work over the past two decades has focused on helping artificial intelligence interact with a human-centered world.

Social Robots - Cynthia Breazeal

If robots can perform in the deepest parts of the ocean, why can't they contribute at home? That question has driven Cynthia Breazeal to pioneer ‘social robotics' that interact with humans. She helped create the world's first social robot, Kismet, and founded Jibo, the world's first family robot. She also directs the Personal Robots Group at MIT's Media Lab.

Robotics for the World - Ayorkor Korsah

Ayorkor Korsah grew up in Ghana and studied in the United States gaining her Ph.D. in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University. Now back in Ghana, she is a professor of computer science and robotics at Ashesi University. In 2012, she co-founded the African Robotics Network, a community that shares robotics resources.

Robots in Space - Dr. Kimberly Hambuchen

Dr. Kimberly Hambuchen is an engineer who develops and improves robots for missions in space. She was part of the team that developed Valkyrie, NASA's first two-legged robot. Hambuchen supports the international space community by improving robots in space.

Robots for Good - Marita Cheng

Marita Cheng is from Australia, and even at the age of 29 her work in robotics is amazing. Her start-up robotics company helps make things easier for people with diverse abilities and long-term illnesses. She has really helped out the medical field greatly.

Robots for Everyone - Kaijen Hsiao

Kaijen Hsiao is a roboticist who wants to bring robots to the masses. Most of all she develops robots that serve the agricultural sector and people with disabilities. Which of these women leaders inspires you most? 

Happy Robotics Week! We have a fun list here that will make you say "Robots do WHAT?!"Once the stuff of futuristic fantasies, robotics has really come into its own! From cooking dinner to performing surgery, robotic capabilities are rapidly expanding far beyond the auto assembly line and into trades and tasks that once seemed impossible. Read on for a summary of some of the surprisingly helpful things robots are doing right now and be amazed!

Believe it or not, robots can:

1. Cook!

   Choose a recipe from the programmed library and Moley Robotics’ Robotic Kitchen will make it for you – from measuring and mixing ingredients to baking, broiling, simmering, and stirring.

   

2. Outrun You!

   A mechanical cheetah built by the engineers at MIT tops out at speeds close to 30 m.p.h. This cruisin’ kitty is designed to help with search and rescue efforts in disaster areas that are not smooth enough for wheeled robots.

3. Fly the Friendly Skies!

   Drones are robots, too, and they’re working all over the world, doing everything from delivering blood to monitoring Australia’s shorelines for sharks.

4. Help You See Better!

   Robots can turn a series of numbers into prescription eyeglasses, all in less than an hour! 

5. Prep Your Meds!

   From pharmaceutical prescriptions to prepping IVs, these nurse bots are rolling behind the scenes in pharmacies and hospitals. Since there is so much that goes into keeping people healthy, this is a huge help in the medical field!

6.  Make Music!

   Brain.fm’s tunes are designed – by robots – to be in synch with your brain waves while making some awesome beats.

7. Shape You Up!

   Personal trainer bots are leading exercise sessions with the elderly. They even monitor participants and can detect correct body position.

8. Read Your Mood!

   A companion robot named Pepper is programmed to read facial expressions and respond accordingly with songs to match your vibe, supportive comments, and more.

9. Make Deliveries!

   Robots are delivering everything from online orders to room service.

10. Perform Surgery!

    Medical facilities including the famed Mayo Clinic use robotics to operate on patients. Using robotics provides “more precision, flexibility, and control than is possible with conventional techniques."

  

Some may worry that the increasing capabilities of robotics will eventually eliminate some human responsibilities, yet remember that these machines are nothing without the human element of programming. Start your kiddo down the path to programming today with Botley the Coding Robot!

Spring has sprung, and we all know the saying, “April showers bring May flowers.” This means, while the excitement of spring is upon us, most areas of the United States will also be facing LOTS of rainy weather. NEVER FEAR: Whether you are reading this as a parent, teacher, or both; these ideas will keep your kiddos engaged in learning, even if they are cooped up inside the house until sunnier days appear! 

Rainbow Round-Up

With spring showers often follow rainbows! Help your little ones pass the time during the storm by exploring the science of rainbows.. Set the stage and build background knowledge by exploring colors, light, and color mixing. These color paddles and color mixing lenses by Learning Resources are perfect for rainbow play and exploration. Let your students experiment with shining light through individual colors and also play with color mixing by overlapping primary color paddles to make secondary colors.

After that warm-up, transition from color mixing to into rainbow fun with one of my favorite, simple activities for this time of year. The best milk color changing experiment I have found is from Spangler Science (here). Watch the video and follow the simple instructions to have your littles mixing colors like rainbow experts. Ask your kiddos to record their materials, steps in the experiment, and observations using a blank paper or in a journal.

Weather Wonders Exploration

When you’re stuck inside due to rainy spring showers, use that time as a learning opportunity, whether at home or school! Using fun, visual, and engaging weather trackers like these (large & small)  from Learning Resources, you can turn the rainy day blues into a meteorologist broadcast. Then, extend that experience with the fun spring craftivity below, and perhaps even pair it with some weather-themed poetry.

 

 

Cupcake Wrapper Umbrellas

This activity is simple, adorable, and perfect for home and school creation. I made these gems applicable to fourth grade by having students start by creating the umbrella visual and then writing poetry about rain to celebrate National Poetry Month in April. You can do the same at home/school to enhance this craftivity.

Materials needed:

Assorted cupcake wrappers/liners

Assorted colors of pipe cleaners

White construction paper

Blue tempera paint

Paintbrushes

Scissors

Glue

Instructions:

Fold 2-3 cupcake liners in half.

Arrange on white construction paper.

Glue back half of the liners to the paper.

Cut pipe cleaners in half (or smaller, if needed).

Curl the bottom end of the pipe cleaner to form the handle (J) of the umbrella

Glue the top of the handle inside the umbrella.

Secure bottom of the pipe cleaner handle to the construction paper by applying glue underneath.

Using blue paint and paintbrush, make raindrops falling all around the umbrellas.

Clean up any mess and display the beautiful finished products! 

While you and your little ones might be thinking, “Rain, rain, go away,” you can make the most of your time inside with these hands-on spring themed activities. They will have a blast, and when the showers pass, they’ll be geared up and ready to explore outdoor spring weather!