One of the many circuit playgrounds that will be used to build robot companions. photo by Atlas Zaina
The Hampden Branch ideaLAB turns scraps into robots.
Wall-E, BMO, R2-D2, and Baymax are all well-loved robots that instantly grabbed the hearts of everyone who has seen them. Though it can be difficult to imagine someone other than a genius creating something so functional yet adorable at the same time, anyone can make anything if they really put their minds to it and work hard, especially when they are given the materials, space, and like-minded people with whom to work.
The Hampden Branch Library holds a small area where anyone can come in and work on almost any project. Sewing machines, soldering irons, Cricut machines, and even a laser cutter are all available to learn about and to use. However, staff members don’t only teach basics on the machines in the space. Every month there are about three classes that are held in the labs. Classes vary from learning about Microsoft Word, to how to weave, or even how to dye dragon eggs. In addition to classes, once school comes to a close, camps that teach coding and activities such as making lamps are available. One of the camps that the ideaLAB will hold in April will focus on creating a companion bot, a robot that can be brought around just like a pet and has movements that portray emotions. For example, if the robot was happy its ears would move or the eye color would change. This project can be done in a multitude of ways; one might go all out and get furs and motors to help the robot move and look more realistic, or one could use scraps around the house to create a prototype or basic companion.
A few staff members at the lab have already finished or just begun to build their own companions to use as examples. Angela Sheehan, one of the full-time workers at the lab, spent about two months working on a dragon companion to bring around with her. This dragon is truly what started it all and one of the reasons Sheehan was inspired to make a camp for people to make companions for themselves. A few of her friends had already made their very own companion bots, ranging from owls to monkeys to spiders, and of course, these adorable creatures caught her attention. “They presented at a conference recently so I got to interact with their creatures in person and thought that would be a cool project for me to try as well,” Sheehan stated. After weeks of design work and sketching, hours of 3D printing, and a lot of trial and error, Sheehan’s companion was finished.
From the time Sheehan was young (and still even now) robotics has often been seen as something made for boys. This is the same stereotype that Sheehan is trying to break, “You start to make it less about a car or a machine and more about a friend that you’re creating,” explained Sheehan. Using robotics to make something that anyone can do and any kid could be interested in allows our youth to recognize that they can all do and make the same things.
This camp is going to be held April second to the fourth, with each day focusing on a different part of the companion. Using craft materials, cardboard, and a circuit board with built-in sensors, attendees will be able to make their own prototype companion. The prototype will have simple movement and some lights to help show emotion. Along with that, the companion will also have some kind of reaction to its surroundings to add personality to the little creature. The excitement that surrounds this upcoming camp only increases as it gets closer, “I’m really excited to see if we have participants who didn’t think of themselves as someone who could make a robot and weren’t interested in the beginning,” stated Sheehan.
The attendance of the camp is limited to the first 20 people and is directed to ages 8 to 12. Participants who attend all three days can take their completed project home. From 1:00-2:30 p.m. on April 2nd-4th the ideaLAB is available to make a creative companion. If there isn’t a chance to go to the camp specifically, staff can help brainstorm to make a companion on one’s own time. The camp free is during spring break and this is an experience that is available to anyone who wants it. Go check it out and learn something new.
