Robotics
SSP FOR RISING TENTH GRADERS
First Week: June 15-21
Robotics - 10C
DR. GEORGE RUDOLPH, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at The Citadel, will focus the class on building and programming a variety of robots using the Lego Mindstorms NXT kit. Lego robots were originally created at MIT for building small, programmable, mobile robots with independent input sensor circuits (touch, light, rotation, temperature) and independent outputs (motor, light, etc.). A few years later, Lego began selling kits as Mindstorms robots, based around the now-famous Lego blocks with a programmable computer included. Lego has recently released the NXT, the next-generation Lego Mindstorm. The new and improved brain, motors and sensors promise to spawn some exciting results as students explore and expand their creativity and problem-solving skills while learning about hands-on robotics. Students will use the Mindstorms Education NXT Base Set and Education Resource Set during the SSP week and then be able to take them home afterward. The NXT system provides everything, except a computer, needed to continue Mindstorms activities. Tuition $795
Dr. Rudolph (BS, MS, PhD, Brigham Young University) came to The Citadel faculty in 2003 after several years in industry as a Software Engineer and Architect at Motorola, Inc. in Arizona. He enjoys such hobbies and interests as martial arts, hockey, chess, general science and foreign languages. He and his wife have 5 children, ranging in age up to 14 years old. His research area is basic and applied research in Neural Networks and Machine Learning, exploring how machines can learn and adapt without being explicitly programmed; a particular area of interest is developing algorithms that could be used to enhance and automate the learning and adaptive abilities of robots, prostheses, reconnaissance devices, and others.
