Getting Vexed: a robot kit that's fun as well as functional

IEEE SPECTRUM
By Stephen Cass / May 2006

Vex Robotics Starter Kit
US $300
http://www.vexrobotics.com

Either you think building robots is cool, or you don't. But if you do, then you'll love the Vex Robotics Design System, a line of robot construction kits and accessories from RadioShack Corp., headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.

First Eyes Inside Nuclear Plant May Be A Robot's

First Eyes Inside Nuclear Plant May Be A Robot'sWorkers in Japan want to look inside three troubled reactors at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. But intense radiation inside the buildings means that it is too dangerous for them to enter. One solution? Robots. They're good at going places where people just don't want to go. And they could be at the site in a matter of days.

Full story at NPR

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Can Japan Send In Robots To Fix Troubled Nuclear Reactors?
It's too dangerous for humans to enter the Fukushima Dai-1 nuclear plant. Why not send in robots?

When it comes to robots, Japan is a superpower, with some of the world's most advanced robotic systems and the highest levels of industrial automation. So it makes sense to ask: Why can't Japan use robots to fix the damaged reactors at the Fukushima Dai-1 nuclear power plant?

Many people have wondered about this possibility, and there's been a lot of speculation and confusion. One news report even slammed Japan for lacking nuclear-disaster robots.

I'd be the first to shout, "Send in the robots!" if it were clear that robots could help in this case. But things aren't that simple. To understand what robots can and cannot do at Fukushima, I spoke to several experts. Here's what they say:

Read more at IEEE Spectrum's robotics blog Automaton

Explorium Edventure Day

EXPLORIUM EDVENTURE DAY
Saturday, March 19th, 12 noon - 4 PM
Are you curious about how and why things work the way they do? The Children’s Science Explorium invites you to investigate, dares you to dig, and promises to peer into the excitement of science as we celebrate the wonders of our world! Join us as we celebrate a day of hands-on exhibits, demonstrations, and activities meant to stir our natural curiosities.

Saturday's Super Full Moon

On March 19th, a full Moon of rare size and beauty will rise in the east at sunset. It's a super "perigee moon"--the biggest in almost 20 years!

Historic First: A Spacecraft Orbits Mercury

NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft successfully achieved orbit around Mercury at approximately 9 p.m. EDT on March 17th. This marks the first time a spacecraft has orbited the solar system's innermost planet.

FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/18mar_orbitmercury/

Planets, Proportions & Pottery: How many sheets to Uranus?

Students model a scale solar system model with toilet paper, and calculate distance and period of time for revolution.

Using a scale of 1 standard sheet of toilet tissue as 10,000,000 miles, we can use the unwound length of the roll of tissue as a ruler for a scale model of our solar system.
Calculate the distance of the planets using a scale of one tissue = 10,000,000 miles. One AU of 93,000,000 miles would be 9 1/3 sheets, 1.52 AU of 141,360,00 miles would be 14.1 sheets, etc.

Using a roll of school-grade toilet tissue, mark off the distances to the planets. Indicate planet placement at each of the appropriate distances.

Scholarship Bulletin for March 2011

Teachers & Staff—

Thank you for sharing this valuable information with our students! A special kudos to Mr. Grinder for putting it on the Guidance Edline page!

Heather Woeber

2011 Space Florida Planetary Lander 'Egg-Drop' competition

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. Space Florida, and NASA-KSC have partnered to provide an opportunity for Florida Elementary, Middle & High school students to participate in an innovative Planetary Lander ‘Egg-Drop’ Competition at Universal CityWalk, - located at Universal Orlando Resort - on Saturday May 21st, 2011

Open to all Florida schools and home-schoolers, this exciting competition now in its third year, invites Florida teachers and their students to register teams with Space Florida and compete in a Planetary Lander competition at Universal CityWalk. Each team will design and build their own Lander in which a ‘raw-egg’ will serve as the payload and must survive a drop of almost 20-feet, just as a real NASA Lander should on the Moon, Mars or an Asteroid. Teams must build their Planetary Landers so that they can fit into a 10inchx10inchx12inch container and the Landers may be constructed of all forms of aluminum, plastic, wood or soft foam. Complete Guidelines, Rules, Regulations, Prizes and Judging Criteria are available from Space Florida. Prizes will be awarded in all three categories – Elementary, Middle and High School.

In addition, NASA-KSC will be providing special Teacher Workshops on Saturday April 23 at the Orlando Science Center, offering NASA materials and guidance from aerospace professionals regarding the building of Planetary Landers.

“This exciting competition is a wonderful opportunity for teachers and students to work together in the design and testing of their Planetary Lander at Universal Orlando Resort,” said Tony Gannon, Space Florida’s Director of Education. “NASA-KSC and Space Florida are inviting both students and teachers alike to participate in this rewarding aerospace engineering, hands-on project”.

The deadline for Florida schools teams to register with Space Florida is May 6, 2011; however, due to the enormous interest in this competition, team leaders are advised to do so ASAP. Applicants should apply for a Registration Package by contacting Space Florida Education Manager Emma Newsham at enewsham[at]spaceflorida[dot]gov

The Planetary Lander ‘Egg-Drop’ Competition is being offered to Florida students by Space Florida and NASA-KSC to help generate student interest in and promote their understanding of aerospace technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as increase their awareness of organizations that help promote the space industry.

Tickets to Universal Orlando Resort are not included in the registration fee; however, competitors may purchase tickets directly from Universal Orlando, using a special Application Form providing a discounted rate for this competition.

About Space Florida: Space Florida was created to strengthen Florida’s position as the global leader in aerospace research, investment, exploration and commerce. As Florida’s aerospace development organization, we are committed to attracting and expanding the next generation of space industry businesses. With its highly trained workforce, proven infrastructure and unparalleled record of achievement, Florida is the ideal location for aerospace businesses to thrive – and Space Florida is the perfect partner to help them succeed. www.spaceflorida.gov.

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For rules and guidelines, see here

STS-133 "Star Trek" Wakeup Call

William Shatner, who played Captain James T. Kirk on the original Star Trek television series, provided a special message to the crew of space shuttle Discovery during the Flight Day 12 wakeup call:

“Space, the final frontier. These have been the voyages of the Space Shuttle Discovery. Her 30 year mission: To seek out new science. To build new outposts. To bring nations together on the final frontier. To boldly go, and do, what no spacecraft has done before.”

The “Theme from Star Trek,” performed by Alexander Courage, served as the wake up music for Discovery’s crew at 2:23 a.m. It received the second most public votes from a Top 40 list in a Space Shuttle Program-sponsored song contest.

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LBST Raingutter Regatta

Let's Build Something Together challenge
PROTOTYPE
Raingutter Regatta challenge

2011 SRCHS SNHS Indiction

2011 SNHS ceremony

The second Science National Honor Society induction at Seminole Ridge was held on March 1st. Congratulations to the Seminole SECME students have taken the oath: "I promise to do my best to represent the academic goals of the Science National Honor Society, participate in community service, and encourage the pursuit of scientific knowledge that benefits all mankind."

Edwin Keo
Arnold Banner
Cindy Dosch

Membership for a student in the SNHS is conferred during the last two years of secondary school education. A student must have and maintain a 3.0 grade point average (4.0 scale) to be a member. In addition, the following qualifications must be met and maintained:

• A member must be enrolled in at least one honors or upper level science class during or prior to the eleventh grade year.
  
• A member must be enrolled in at least one second year honors or upper level science class during or prior to the twelfth grade year.
  
• If second year honors or upper level science courses are not offered by the school, then the student must be enrolled in a second first year honors or upper level science class during or prior to the twelfth grade year.
  
• A member must maintain a B+ average (3.5 on a 4.0 scale) across all science courses.
  

Our Honorary Inductees for this year, voted on by the membership are:
- Erich Landstrom
- Caroyln Slygh
- Jaime Young
- Steve Alten

Last year's Honorary members:
- Dr. McGee
- Margarette Marturano
- Shawna Ahmad

We would like to thank the entire science deparment for their support and dedication to our students.

Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Spring 2011

In the Spring 2011 issue of the Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter
- Silver and Red: Seminole Ridge Hawks snatch silver during district engineering Olympiad
- SECME Spotlight on Edwin Keo
- Drop It, Build It, Fly It, Launch It, Thrill It on April 16th
- Figure This! How far can you fly a paper plane?
- Hawks buzz the National Science Bowl in Miami
- Owls and Hawks: Engineers Week at FAU
- XKCD.COMic "860 - Never Do This"

Click here to download a PDF copy of our
Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Spring 2011 issue.
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