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Children use robotic Legos to build cars

Carrie Smith <csmith@dailymail.com>
Daily Mail staff

Thursday June 08, 2000; 02:15 PM

HUNTINGTON -- Eleven-year old Brian Adkins wants to be a computer programmer when he grows up. His friend Alex McPherson can't decide between astronomy and science. 

"He's a Trekkie," Brian explained. 

Even with a long time left to decide, these two sixth-graders are getting a jump-start on the future by taking a summer class at Marshall University.

 But this isn't your run-of-the-mill note-taking, essay-writing class.

 The eight students enrolled in "Intelligent Transportation Systems using Lego Robotics" are learning to design roads and cars of the future out of plastic toys.

 Sound like kid's stuff?

 It's not.

 Sponsored by the Appalachian Transportation Institute, this program is designed to encourage interest in math and science, with emphasis on transportation.

 "This class is teaching children how to meet real needs of society," teacher Linda Hamilton said. "We get to them while they are young and get them interested in math and science."

 Students build cars, streets, roadblocks and houses out of robotic Lego pieces. Then, they design a computer program that will enable the Legos to move.

 "They design ways to handle the traffic of the future," Hamilton said. "They test their ideas back and forth and make changes until they succeed."

 On Wednesday, the third day of the class, students were working on "intelligent vehicles." The cars can run by light power or follow along a specific path. Other projects were roads that can monitor traffic and sensors that can determine when a red light needs to turn green.

 "This is real, hands-on stuff," said Sharon Simon, a fifth-grade teacher who assists Hamilton. "These kids get to actually use problem-solving skills to make these things come to life."

 Simon said she is hoping to see the effects this program will have on girls in relation to math and science.

 "We're hoping to measure the interest of girls from the beginning to the end of each session," she said. "A lot of girls don't think they can't do it. But I say ‘Yes, yes they can.' They never believe it until they get their hands on it."

 The two girls in the class aren't worried about competition from the boys. Both Maggie Chenoweth and Ellen Weed, seventh-graders at Barboursville Middle School, said they want to study science and become doctors. 

"I'd like to do something with math and science," Maggie said. "And definitely something with computers."

 The girls designed a robotic Lego traffic stop equipped with light sensors, traffic signals and moving gate.

 Also part of the institute is a "Design a Future Vehicle" workshop, where students use real engineering software to create their models of future transportation.

 The classes are part of the University Transportation System, funded by a $12 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The center at Marshall is the newest of 33 centers nationwide.

 The Appalachian Transportation Institute at Marshall has partnerships with Bluefield State College, the College of West Virginia and West Virginia University Institute of Technology.

 "Right now, because we are so new, we're working on what we want to do and how to implement the programs," said Barbara Roberts, the program coordinator.

 Once the institute gets under way, Hamilton and others will travel to area schools to teach other children about transportation systems of the future.

 "We want to reach as many kids as possible so they can get this hands-on training, so they can learn how to do research and problem-solving," Hamilton said.