Geek Speak: Omar Khalid Fakrul Kareem

It’s been 5 days since the end of KRG and things are finally back to the way they were. The event which was a gargantuan success has finally passed by and we are finally back after taking care of the entire gamut of post-event formalities. Meanwhile, back at Kidobotikz, it is Friday evening and students have started to trickle in after a long day at school. This being a long weekend, thanks to Ganesh Chaturthi on monday, one can expect three full days of roboting. It would be interesting to see how students will pay their obeisance to Lord Ganesh. Perhaps they might design a robotic version of the hindu deity. But again, these students have been engaged in enough robotics that could last for a month’s time or two. In the run up to KRG, most of these young minds were involved in close to 4 hours of robotics and related work everyday. It is only wise that they took a break from it for a while. And that’s exactly the last week must’ve helped them achieve. 

Meanwhile, I meet a young gentleman who is here after a memorable KRG. After being adjudged the winner in the Project Display, he is on cloud nine. Not just that, his school PSBB-KK Nagar was felicitated with a rolling shield for sending a contingent of excellent performers who won across all events. 

Before we talk on anything else, there’s quite a backstory to this chat. Omar, who we’ll be chatting with today, is quite a busy bee. On all the previous encounters I’ve met him, he was either busy with his bots or busy rushing for other activities after overstaying here at Kidobotikz. A chat with him has always eluded me, that is until today. I finally catch up him while he is yet again on his way hurrying out of the Kidobotikz makerspace place after a casual drop-by. I finally convince him to get a chat out of him. Kidobotikz, for him, is a favourite hangout spot.

Hey Omar! Must’ve been a wonderful KRG experience for you!

KRG is always an amazing experience for me. Here it is all about roboting and making new friends. This KRG was no different for me either. Made a few robots, won an event and made some great friends.

That’s quite interesting, How was your experience of being adjudged winner in the project display event?

Well, the event had a “Clean India” theme. Everyone else had plans to build a robot that was capable of cleaning and doing other chores. But, I just thought the country needed a helping hand for making itself cleaner. So, decided upon making a bionic arm that signifies the dexterity required for cleaning. Luckily, the judges were happy with my forethought and gave me the prize. 

Interesting. So, how does it feel to be a robotics hobbyist? 

Robotics for me is a highly passionate hobby. It has given some important life lessons such as being cautious with every step, making innovative things, understanding the importance of every ounce of knowledge etc. Even in my everyday life, robotics has made me something of a thinker. Not only am I now aware of how things work, but I can also make things on my own. When I first joined Kidobotikz 11/2 years ago, I had joined out of my own interest after finding out about them. I can now proudly say that my interest had paid off! 

Impressive! So, what is your take-away from this KRG and what do you aim to do in the next KRG?

Well, my proudest moment would be lifting up the trophy for our school. My own wins is something I will always cherish. Also, this is my successive “Project Expo” win. I wanna probably make it a hat-trick the next time. 

My best wishes for you! To conclude our chat, I’d like to know your future plans and ambitions when you graduate from Kidobotikz and high school

Well, I have no concrete plans yet. But I do wanna do robotics at one of the IITs or abroad when I leave high school. Other than that, I plan to take up everything as it comes by.

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Geek Speak: KRG Special Edition

Here comes Friday evening and with it a rush of activity. It is the last day before the big event and it’s a complete frenzy here at Kidobotikz. We’re on the eve of the most awaited weekend of the month- The weekend of KRG. The fact that it was a rainy evening seemed to have no impact on anyone. Every single person, be it students or personnel, seem to be caught up in the frenzy for the KRG weekend and the preparations are in full swing. The 11th hour preparations are underway and the entire campus is a beehive of activity. 

Back at the Makerspace, it is rush hour. Students who embody the principles of procrastination are here giving final touches to their robots which are to be displayed tomorrow. Supporting them are their faculty who are helping them test their robots and make sure that all of them are display a flawless working condition tomorrow. 

In the meantime, I just get a quick glance at all the robots that being tinkered upon and find one particular robot. This robot which sports liveries not much different from the sponsorship liveries on an F-1 race car belonged to a young mind. Shraddha, who is a 5th grader at the Ravindra Bharathi Global School, is the brains behind this interesting robot. The robot which has been aptly named “Magno-bot” is an cleaning robot which can separate ferrromagnetic materials from municipal waste. These could range from anything between iron filings to nails. She has developed it for tomorrow’s project expo and has high hopes for her project.

Meanwhile, the lobby of the Kidobotikz office is filled with parents for whom waiting outside the Kidobotikz classrooms has been a regular routine this week. Thanks to such devoted parents who are equally enthused about the event, kids are able to expose themselves to such interesting events and gain experience as educate themselves.

We have talked a lot about the preparations for the event itself; however, it would be a lost cause if our readers were not aware of how the actual event will turn out to be. While our prime suggestion would be to request you all to drop in at tomorrow’s KRG, we don’t want our followers to miss the action. So, stay updated on the Kidobotikz facebook page to receive a flurry of images that will be uploaded throughout the day to ensure that everybody can get a taste of the ongoing action.

If you are still an avid reader of our blog, it would prudent for you to catch a front row seat at CEG’s Tag Auditorium by 8:30 AM; because that is where all the action will be happening for the next couple of days. 

Happy Roboting ! !

Happy KRG ! !

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Geek Speak: Vishnu

For those of you who are reading this article, I’d rather say “Mark your calendars” because the countdown for KRG has commenced and we barely have five more days to go. We are all aware as to how the week can just whiz past when you are awaiting for the most important weekend of the trimester. Back at Kidobotikz, it’s business as usual. Being the fact that today is sunday and there’s no holiday in the week before KRG begins, it was a jam packed afternoon over here. “Jam packed” in the literal sense as there has only been standing room for every student with all of them racing against time to get their robots ready. The makerspace is infact so cramped that students have had to borrow spaces in the classrooms to work on their robots. Meanwhile, amidst all the beehive of activity, I manage to find my target for the day. I spot a reticent chap who’s hard at work on fixing his robot that bears an uncanny resemblance to an SUV. More than him, his robot’s dynamic design captivates me. I decide to engage him in a conversation to satiate my own curiosity.

Hey Sriram! Why don’t you temme a bit about yourself and your path to Kidobotikz?

I am T.K. Vishnu. I study in class 8 of Sri Krish International School, Kundrathur. Back here at Kidobotikz, I commenced my Advanced level recently and am now progressing through it with quite a bit of fervour. I joined here in when I was in class 7. I found Kidobotikz while I was scouring the internet for a robotics kit that I could use. Interestingly, I found more than what I was looking for. 

Interesting. So, how does it feel to be a robotics enthusiast here at Kidobotikz? 

Robotics for me is a highly passionate hobby. I grew up loving mechanics and mechanical designs, so robotics represents the next logical step for me to explore. So, I took it up here at Kidobotikz. One thing that stumped here was programming. I wasn’t expecting to see “programming” turn up in my courses. So, when that happened, I was quite baffled. You usually don’t see mid-schoolers learn programming. But, thanks to the Kidobotikz curriculum, I have been able to quite comfortably gain my foothold in the concepts of programming.

So, I take to it that you are here for KRG? Is this your first KRG or have you already participated in it before? 

This is infact my 3rd KRG. I participated in the two preceding editions and had a forgettable experience. I participated in a lot of events, but wasn’t quite able to stand out in performance. This time, I am participating with a resolve to win. 

That’s unfortunate! So, what were the events you participated in the previous editions?

I participated in several events. The ones that I can actually remember are Robo Race, Robo Sumo, Robo Kabbadi, Line Tracer. But this time, I have enrolled in events that I am confident of putting up a more than decent performance. 

Interesting! What are the events you are participating in this edition?

Well I have enrolled myself in AutoTransbot, Pick ‘n’ Place and a project expo. For the project expo I have developed an Automatic Air-filter that can be retrofitted atop street lamps and monitor the air quality of the street. But, the event that I am hoping to leave a lasting impact on is the Robo Sumo. I was sooo close the last time. This time I hope to win it. 

Could you let me know what went wrong for you the last time at Robo Sumo and how have you planned for it this time? 

Well, the last time my robot employed a Johnson gear motor. This let to the robot having a sub optimal torque and couldn’t exert its thrust quite well upon the opponent bots. I have made up for it this time by employing Square Geared motors which have a much better torque output. I also am going to employ powered forklifts on the forward section of my robots so that I can shock the opponent by toppling it over.

Impressive! My best wishes for you! To conclude our chat, I’d like to know your future plans and ambitions when you graduate from Kidobotikz and high school.

Well, I have no concrete plans yet. I don’t have any idea as to which college to join as well. But, if there’s one thing I can tell you with certainty, it’s that I will take up robotics. Most importantly bots that can take part in battles. It’s something I ponder on a lot about and I see myself working towards the same. Other than that, I plan to take up everything as it comes by.

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Geek Speak: Sai Sriram

The fact that today is Saturday seems to be ringing alarm bells for many a youngsters at Kidobotikz. It is the last weekend before KRg and everybody is busy on getting their robots ready. Every inch of the makerspace is crammed with students of all ages who are here with only one agenda on mind- KRG. Welcome to the KRG week blues. Between balancing homework and cranking out robots, the platter of these young gentlemen is filled for the whole week. We are back at where we left of yesterday. Yesterday was the turn of Thazeem getting interviewed by me when his “Partner-in-mischief” Sriram was caught up with their project. Now, Sriram has taken some time out of his day out at Kidobotikz to have a chat with me. He is a fun young chap who is by every meaning of the word “fiercely competitive“. Even as I meet him he is already brimming with energy and is not sure as to how to contain his immense energy. Assuming our chat could be of help, i engage him in a conversation.

Hey Sriram! Why don’t you temme a bit about yourself and your path to Kidobotikz?

I am Sai Sriram. I study in class 9 of Modern Senior Secondary School, Nanganallur. Back here at Kidobotikz, I finished my Advanced level recently and am now progressing through my expert level. I joined here in April after being introduced to Kidobotikz by a friend of mine named Siddharth who himself is in the Advanced level. Robotics was a relatively new interest for me and thanks to Kidobotikz it has now turned into a passion. 

Interesting. So, how does it feel to be a robotics enthusiast here at Kidobotikz? 

Well, robotics for me is a highly empowering experience. I get to feel like a grown up doing all kinds of grown up things. The whole aspect of learning through a having process appeals to me immensely. I have learnt concepts that are just mindblowing for a student of my age. Considering the fact that I’ve managed to learn them makes me feel great about myself.

I’ve asked this question to your partner and am asking you as well, why are you here this weekend? 

Well, like Thazeem put it so eloquently yesterday, My partner-in-mischief Thazeem and I are here to get our robot ready for the upcoming KRG event AutoTransbot .

Interesting! So, what events are you participating in this time?

Well, that’s a totally funny story! I am participating in all the events of KRG except Project Expo. 

I’m sorry, could you refresh my memory and temme the name of each event you are participating in?

The list is quite long. Here it goes- Line Tracer, AutoTransbot, Temple Run, Balloon Burster, Manual Pick ‘n’ Place and Manual Sumo. So, basically everything other than the Project Expo. I would’ve participated in it as well, if time wasn’t so scarce. Between schooling and robotics, this is the best I could manage.

That is a long list indeed! Phew! To even remember such a long list of events is quite a daunting task. My best wishes for you.

Moving on, why don’t you temme if there is a particular kind of robot that you have a fascination for? 

The ASIMO series of robots which Honda developed have always fascinated me. I intend to learn robotics to the extent that I am able to design one of these by myself one day.

You’ve read about ASIMO? That’s impressive! I’d be even more enchanted if you could elaborate it’s abbreviation!

Easy peasy! Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility…

I’m quite dumbfounded by your curiosity and acumen in the area of robotics! So, what do you plan to do when you graduate from high school? 

Well, I have always wanted to do science or robotics as a part of my career. I intend to join Cambridge when i become a graduate. It represents to me the best seat in science.

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Geek Speak: Thazeem Mohammed

It’s Friday the 19th of August and today officially marks the one week countdown to KRG’s 9th Edition. Back at Kidobotikz, familiar scenes are unfolding with lots of students flocking to get their robots ready for participating in KRG. These young gentlemen are left with less than week to submit their registrations for Kidobotikz’s flagship event and slugging towards the deadline with an intent to be ready in time for the registrations. Meanwhile, I spot a kiddo with a demeanour that is not much unlike any youngster I meet here at Kidobotikz. He is engrossed in a brainstorming session with his buddy/partner; both of them are probably dwelling over the details of their project to get the aspects right. This is when I precisely interrupted their conversation to prise out an interview out of him and his buddy.

Hey Thazeem! Why don’t you temme a bit about yourself and your path to Kidobotikz?

I am Thazeem Mohammed. I study in class 9 of Modern Senior Secondary School, Nanganallur. Back here at Kidobotikz, I finished my Beginner level here a couple of months back and am now on a hiatus until I take up the Advanced level in October. I joined here in April after being introduced to Kidobotikz by a friend of mine named Siddharth who himself is in the Advanced level. It’s been an interesting few months. I was infact looking for a place to learn robotics and then Kidobotikz happened.

That is interesting. So, how do feel as a student here at Kidobotikz? And why are you here this weekend if you are on a sabbatical from the course?

Well, to anybody who asks me this question, I always say this- “I underestimated the system at Kidobotikz”. I was looking for a place to join and learn robotics out of interest, but at Kidobotikz, I found more than that. It’s more about learning and having fun in that process. I have learnt concepts in a fun way at Kidobotikz which would otherwise be utterly boring. To answer your second question, I am here to take part in KRG’s August edition which is happening a week from today. My partner-in-mischief Sai Sriram and I are here to get our robots ready to take part in various.

Interesting! So, what robots are you developing for the event?

I am here to develop two robots. One of them is a Line tracer robot which will be used in the Autotransbot event. The other one is a wall follower event where the robot will carry out it’s locomotion around the walls.

Impressive! So, what do you think of the idea of learning robotics at such a young age? Are there any particular robots that you have a fascination for?

Well, the whole idea of learning robotics as a course while still in school is something that I completely support. It helps me let off some steam from the regular learning that I do at school while also supplementing the same learning that I try to get away from by immersing myself into robotics. Talking about favourite bots, I gotta say my favourite would be the Hexapods we learn in the Expert level. They quite resemble insects and their locomotion and are fairly complex. That keeps me in awe of them.

Moving on, what do you plan to do with the knowledge that you learnt here?

I actually planned to do Civil engineering for my bachelors. Ever since I saw the “Introduction to Kidobotikz” video, I have shifted my goalposts. Now I intend to do robotics in my higher studies. While, I am still not sure which college I wanna enroll myself in, I just wanna join any college where I can pursue a Mechanical engineering course, if not a full-fledged robotics course.

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Geek Speak: Kanishk

Why do kids spend their time in learning ? Could it be because we make them to? Or could it be because their school curriculum forces them to? Or could it be because they want to just try learning to pursue excellence? The answer could lie anywhere between the three reasons. They could even be learning to gain an upper hand among peers. But, not so often do kids learn to maintain a creative edge and replicate the same in the form of a concept that they’d look at as a masterpiece. However, at Kidobotikz, this is usually the prevailing attitude. Kids here learn robotics for myriads of purposes. But the general reason usually is to make sure that they always have a creative edge that churns out interesting concepts and makes them the envy of their peers.

Meet Kanishk, a next gen roboticist. He is in his class 9 at Chettinad Vidyashram. Back at Kidobotikz, he pursues his Advanced level. He has taken part in several robotic competitions to prove his mettle and he has been successful at a few of them as well. Some of his recent successes include taking part in the Singapore Robo Games. He was among a very few students from Kidobotikz who made it to SRG and considers it a proud accomplishment. Back at Kidobotikz, his accomplishments are immense. As recently as April, he contested in Kidobotikz’s triannual robotics extravaganza- Kidobotikz Robo Games. His participation was a resounding success with him taking part in several events such as Robo Sumo, Robo Race etc. He finished 2nd in the Robo Race- an impressive feat considering the fact that it’s the most prestigious event at KRG with hundreds of students participating in it. And since it is an open event, he is likely to have contested against pros and won it in style. While his roboting past is truly illustrious, he is not one to sit back and bask upon it. He is already gearing up for the next edition of KRG.

The August edition of KRG, which is about to happen by the end of this week will feature some of the brainiacs in Chennai schools. These young warriors who will ride into the event on the success of their robot designs will truly throw a tough fight for any pro. Kanishk is gonna be up against them and try to establish his dominance yet again. For the same he is planning to take part in the project display event. He has designed a robot that can be controlled using just gestures. This robot which features a receiver can be controlled via an accelerometer board that can be fitted on to the palm. By just moving the arms around the robot can be controlled. The robot will be controlled using just one hand. For developing the same, Kanishk has taken guidance under Vignesh, a distinguished trainer and Kidobotikz and an integral cog of the training team that is helping students brainstorm their ideas and develop new concepts for display at KRG. Vignesh, who himself is a veteran in robotic events, has won close to 20 robotic event around the city. Here at Kidobotikz, he shares the core vision of democratizing the technology of robotics so that young students can learn them and apply them in their lives. He is happy teaching his students a trick or two that he applied back in his college days. Vignesh, for whom robotics is very close to his heart, is all praise for his protege who he feels is very sharp and has a knack for coming up with out of the box ideas. 

Happy Roboting ! ! 

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Geek Speak: Bhaskar

Ask anyone about the most important days of the week, they’ll probably say it’s the weekends- Saturday and Sunday. These are the days when all humans take a break from the rigours of the week and get themselves rejuvenated for the upcoming week’s challenges. While Sunday is the day of rest and respite for the working class of humans, Saturday is the corresponding fun and frolic day when Kids spend whole day in playing ( because Sundays are usually for school homework, project and last minute exam preparations ). Kids use saturday to let of all the steam they build up over the week. Visit any living room on saturdays and it’s usually at the helm of the youngest members of the family who spend all day long watching cartoons, movies and what have you. But visit Kidobotikz on either of these days and reality paints a different picture. Kids here are gearing up for the next of Kidobotikz’s festivities- KRG. They don’t mind losing a chunk of their playtime and spend it on ideas that they wanna display at the upcoming event. While friends may be out there playing football on the streets, here are guys who build robots that play football against one another. I met one such young gentleman for whom Kidobotikz and its makerspace are less than a stone’s throw away. That’s because he is a neighbour for the Kidobotikz office.

Hey Bhaskar! Temme a bit about yourself and your unique association with Kidobotikz.

Well, I am Bhaskar of Class 7, PSBB KK Nagar. As for the unique association you asked about, I call Kidobotikz my neighbour. I have know both the founders ever since they opened it and I have seen Kidobotikz grow from the small classroom it was to the revolutionary startup it is today. Kidobotikz to me is just like a neighbour’s place. I can traipse in there anytime I want and just start experimenting with ideas. I know all the staff from the tech support team to the trainers. It’s not a robotic school for me. It’s more like a hangout spot. 

Well I cannot help but feel envy for your unique vantage point. What level are you in? And how is it progressing?

I am currently in the beginner level only. I wanted to join Kidobotikz when I was much younger. But my parents wanted me to get a little elder so that I was in a position to understand the seriousness of the course. Now, I feel I could’ve joined earlier itself.

It’s not that late. I mean you are still young enough for the course. So, why are you here today?

KRG only, why else? I am here to design a concept for the clean india theme. It’s a bluetooth controlled dustbin. 

A Bluetooth-controlled dustbin? That’s amusing. Could tell how it would function? 

Well the working prototype is still under development. But, the basic functioning would be something like this. It would be a Bluetooth controllable robot that has a dustbin as the payload. If you are in the room and want to discard wastes from you study table or computer table, you can summon the dustbin via your mobile phone. It will reach out to you and open the lid of the dustbin. You can just throw away the waste without ever leaving your chair. This kind of a concept can find use in many places like offices, houses, classroom. It’s more like a pet than a slave, kind of like a stressbuster. (laughs) 

That is interesting. What do you plan to do with your expertise gained from this project ?

Well, my general aim is to explore the world of robotics and make robots that make life easier for not the elite few but the common populace. So, I will design robots that will be both technologically advanced as well as cheap to purchase. 

Wow! That is cool. One last question before we move on, temme what’s your favourite subject among the area of robotics? And what are your future ambitions?

Well, I hope to pursue mechanical engineering and become a robotics engineer someday. Whoever is the robotics bigwig when I graduate, I wanna work for them. As for my favourite subject, it has to be programming. I just love to code. The way I am able to write new lines of code and see bots execute them is so empowering.

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Geek Speak: Ashvath

It’s Friday evening and the weekend is finally here. Although for a lucky few students they’ve already enjoyed a holiday today thanks to a long weekend. With it being Varalakshmi Vratam today and with the Independence day on Monday, it is a four day long weekend for most schools in the city. Most kids would’ve have already packed up their bags and left the city to beat the heat. Back at Kidobotikz, post 4 days of empty classrooms, we are finally here at business end of Kidobotikz’s week. Despite it being a long weekend, Kids are here preparing for another important weekend- the weekend of KRG. Students are flocking here to get their projects ready for Kidobotikz. These young gentlemen are here working towards building cool projects and powerful robots for KRG. I look around the room and find a lot of familiar faces- these guys spend an inordinate amount of time at the makerspace of Kidobotikz. They are usually here as soon as the school is over and spend their time on robotics well until it’s dark. It’s not something we mind, because we always love when our students are with their robots. Meanwhile, I spot one guy who I have never noticed before. He is involved in a discussion with his mentor. The two of them had probably been brainstorming on some idea when I interrupted their conversation. 

Hey Ashvath! Why don’t you temme a bit about yourself and your path to Kidobotikz?

I am C.V. Ashvath. I study in class 8 of Vani Vidyalaya, KK Nagar. Back here at Kidobotikz, I am doing my Expert level. I came to know of Kidobotikz when they conducted a robotics summer camp at my school. At the end of the summer camp they gave us the brochures of Kidobotikz. I looked up the address, visited the center, fell in love with it and joined here. I was infact looking for a place to learn robotics and that Kidobotikz was a godsend. 

That is interesting. So, you were aware of robotics even before joining here? How did that happen?

I have always had a penchant for things that are creative. I just love inventions and want to invent things that are both simple yet ingenious. Robotics is a field which has been known for its ingenuity. Hence, I wanted to learn robotics.

Interesting! So, are you participating in the August Edition of KRG ?

Yes, I am going to participate in KRG’s 9th edition. This will be my 3rd KRG. I am quite excited about participating in the event. I am getting my projects ready in eager anticipation for the event. I am developing a project for the “Clean India”-theme as well as a separate line tracer robot.

Could you explain to me about your project?

My team mates and I are working on a project for the “Clean India” theme. The project is a Intelligent Solid Waste Management system. The project involves us building an Intelligent dustbin that would make the life of municipal workers easy.

Interesting! Could you explain a bit more about your project? 

We are going to embed level sensors in each dustbin and connect them to a GSM module. That way, every time a dustbin is filled, the notification for the same reaches the central collection agency. This reduces the daily effort these people have to go through to get every dumpster checked. Also, it helps the public as the dustbins never overflow and cause nuisance. This is a win-win for both sides and makes the whole process efficient.

Impressive! Your idea is amazing. Moving on, what do you plan to do with the knowledge that you learnt here? 

I actually intend to do robotics in my higher studies. While, I am still not sure which college I wanna enroll myself in, I just intend to join in any college where I can pursue a full-fledged robotics course.

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Geek Speak: Amay Anand

The spirit of collaboration is something that leaves a lovely impact on one who bears witness to the same. When two minds come together and try to work together as a single entity and attain a common goal, it is something that defines that key difference between us humans and other species on the planet- civility. And when young minds come together to develop tech concepts, it shows how much we have come forward as a species. Back at Kidobotikz, this form of partnership is witnessed quite often when students from different schools and different parts of the city come together to develop something that gives them immense joy- A working model. Meet Amay Anand and Vishal Harinandanan, fellow Kidobotikzians and now friends. The two of them are here on the weekend to develop a concept to display at KRG’s August edition.I had already interviewed one of them yesterday while the other one was busy with some aspects of the project. Today, Amay, the taller one of the duo finally found some time to sit down for a chat with me.

Hey Amay! Why don’t you temme about yourself and how you discovered Kidobotikz?

I am Amay Anand. I study in the 8th Grade at PSBB KK Nagar. I am in the Advanced level here at Kidobotikz. I joined Kidobotikz because of my sister. When I saw my sister learning interesting things in programming and do the same on our computer, I grew curious. I wanted to learn those “cool” things as well. Hence, I joined Kidobotikz.

That is interesting. Since when are you at Kidobotikz? And do your classmates know about the same? 

I joined here 3 years ago when I was in class 6. I did a couple of the basic courses, then took a break before taking up my Advanced level this year. As for my friends, they can’t hear enough of Kidobotikz from me. I boast to them about the bots i make every week and make fun of them with the same. 

That is amusing. Talking about boasting, have you participated in robotic events?

I have taken part in robotic competitions. I recently took part in a line tracer bot competition. Besides, as Vishal told you, we are building a line tracing transbot for this edition of KRG. 

So, what do you plan to do with the immense knowledge of robotics you gain here?

Learning robotics actually helps me understand the way other things work. I love understanding the working mechanisms of all kinds of things. So, I wanna build on my knowledge of robotics and learn other areas as well.

Impressive! Which type of robot do you read more about?

Well, I love things that I am capable of building on my own. As of now, I am capable of building good Line Tracer robots. So, I gotta say they are my favourite at the moment. 

That is cool. One last question before we move on, what are your plans for the future?

My love has always been in programming and coding. So, I wanna pursue a degree in preferably Electrical or Computer science engineering. IIT-M or IIT-Delhi are the universities where I wanna see myself in. After that, I wanna work on some interesting areas like Nanotechnology, Agribots. Particularly Agribots because they are a challenge to design and build.

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Geek Speak: Vishal Harinandanan

If one should wonder what kind of a place Kidobotikz is, there is usually more than one answer to it. That’s because things that happen here transcend the definition of normal. And the organization in itself has not much to do with this. This is more due to the tots that come under our umbrella. These ten-something tech wizards cannot stop redefining the way we look at kids and their calibre. Conversations I have with these young gentlemen refines the way I think and usually puts me to shame over my inadequacy of tech understanding. However, it is more than just a learning opportunity for me. It’s more of a motivation for me to learn more. Every week I get to meet some of the well versed and ingenious minds who are raising the bar for us as a society to live in. Let’s meet someone who is the youngest astronomy wizard I’ve met until now.

Hey Vishal! Why don’t you temme a bit about yourself and your path to Kidobotikz?

I am Vishal Harinandanan. I am studying at Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Anna Nagar. I am in the Advanced level here at Kidobotikz. I joined Kidobotikz because of my dad. He got to know of his Kidobotikz through his friend who has a son who studies here. Besides, my dad knew about my love towards robotics. So, naturally he wanted me to explore the world of robotics through Kidobotikz. 

That is interesting. So, you were aware of robotics even before joining here? How did that happen?

Well, I’ve loved robotics all my life. Even as a young kid I used to buy DIY Kits online and do projects of my own. I am a big fan of Iron Man. So, I tried to make the Iron Man arm using DIY kits. I made the entire forehand assembly and even added motor in the palm and tried to emulate a weapon wheel with cardboard. I used cardboard only because mom didn’t let me use actual metal (laughs).

You did all this even before joining Kidobotikz? That’s a surprise! Is there anything else you haven’t done? 

Actually, I wanted to do a lot more with Robotics. That’s why I joined Kidobotikz. Here I have learnt a lot deeper about the world of robotics and its core technologies. I now have the intellectual freedom to try out more. Besides, my Dad is a big support to me in this regard. I go to him with designs and he helps me brainstorm as to how I can make the designs better. He is an engineer. So, he has some expertise in this area, which I use to my advantage. 

Your enthusiasm in this area is quite amazing. What do your teachers think of you back school?

Actually, my interest in robotics has earned me quite a notoriety in school. We have an hour of Electronic Gadgets (E.G) every week at school. And I am usually the one who raises my hands to pester my teachers with questions. My teachers have a hard time containing my excitement in this particular hour. 

That is quite amusing. So, temme what kinda robots capture your fascination?

Since I like Iron Man a lot, I would have to say, I like Iron Man type exoskeleton bots. I dream of designing one of my own one day. 

What is the project you are working on? 

I am working on a collaborative project with my friend Amay who’s also here today. We are developing a Kiiva-type transporter bot for the KRG event Autotransbot. 

That is interesting. My best wishes. One last question before we move on, what are your ambitions in life? What do you plan to do with your knowledge that you learnt here?

I want to become a robotics scientist in life. And since I also love astronomy, biology and working mechanisms in general, I want to explore something that involves all of these areas.

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Geek Speak: Karthik Chidambaram

Kidobotikz is a fountainhead of knowledge where one gets to discover some interesting youngsters. When one enters Kidobotikz’s makerspace, it is usually a beehive of activity with geeks and their tools. These tech aficionados are generally oblivious to the happenings around them and are lost in squeezing every bit of functionality out of their robots. They are an entire breed who strive to achieve something phenomenal. They strive to give something back to the vast pool of knowledge in the robotics community. These teenagers redefine our perception of practical learning and its impact on young minds. Conversations with these young gentlemen is something I cherish. I enter the Kidobotikz makerspace and notice someone who is fidgeting with his robotics kit. He is hard at work for getting his idea right. Sensing that he needs a break, I pull him up and try to distract him with by getting an interview out of him. Interestingly, he is a digital platform student- a new bunch of students who learn through Kidobotikz’s online platform instead of the old classroom model. He is here to just get a feel of the makerspace and get a few projects ready for project display at KRG August. 

Hey Karthik! Why don’t you temme a bit about yourself and your path to Kidobotikz?

I am Karthik chidambaram! I study in Class 8 of Amritha Vidyalaya, Amman Nagar. I completed my Beginner level recently and am now awaiting the results for my Beginner level exam. I came to know about Kidobotikz through a mutual friend who had told my friend about this place. I have been interested in robotics from a very young age. So, I decided to check out this place. And I fell in love with it. 

Robotics enthusiast even before Kidobotikz? How did that happen?

I have always liked remote controlled (RC) cars. When my dad bought me one, I opened it apart and used the components to build one separately. I have been obsessed with robotics and motors ever since.

That is interesting. How goes your Kidobotikz course? And what are you working on today?

I still haven’t started my advanced level as my Beginner level project is yet to get approved. In the meanwhile I wanted to get ready and do something for KRG. So, I came here to get some new ideas and develop them for the event. 

Have you participated in KRG before? Or is this your first event?

Nope. This is my first KRG and I am quite excited about it. I have decided to make a pick and place robot that will pick waste and place it in a basket. 

Interesting! So, what kinda robots do you like?

RC Helicopters and Cars have always been my fashion. Hence logically, my new obsession is drone tech. Particularly Quadcopters which have endless applications in the future. I have already started researching on how to build one by myself by watching DIY videos on Youtube. Once, I accumulate all the required knowledge and components, I’ll start assembling them. Hopefully soon!

That is cool. One last question before we move on, what are your ambitions in life? What do you plan to do with your knowledge that you learnt here?
I want to learn medicine and become a Doctor. For me robotics is about fun and learning interesting concepts in a fun way. Besides, I want to use my knowledge of robotics in Biomedical engineering. That way I can contribute to medical community through engineering.

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Geek Speak: Raghav Ram

If there is one thing that is unpredictable about Kids, it is the fact that can act a lot more adult can you can imagine. It goes for the language they use, the tantrums they throw and more importantly the things they build. The most unlikely of concepts can be imagined by kids. And when they come up with such concepts it surprisingly baffles even the most assuming of adults. With us here today is a young gentleman, who is too young for the word young itself. He is one of the youngest students to have ever picked up robotics as a hobby at Kidobotikz, if not anywhere. I meet him at the makerspace of kidobotikz where he is accompanied by his mom who is as enthusiastic and energetic as this tot, if not more. Meet Raghav Ram, the youngest robotics enthusiast that we know of.

Hey Raghav! Temme a bit about yourself.

I am Raghav Ram. I am studying in class 3 of The Pupil- Saveetha Eco school, Seeneerkuppam. I stay in Anna Nagar. Here at Kidobotikz, I am in Junior Level- 2.

That is interesting. How goes your level? And what are you working on?

My course is very interesting. I have learnt the basics for building a robot and am now actually putting it for good use. With KRG around the corner, I am looking to come up with new concepts that can be turned into working models. I want to display as many projects as I can. That is why I have come with my mother to develop a new project- cleaning robot.

Cleaning Robot? Interesting. Can you tell me how it works?

The cleaning robot which I have assembled consists of a mopping mechanism and a vacuum mechanism. The vacuum sucks all the dust from the front of the robot while it moves around. The mop has cotton threads fixed to rotating wheel. With the application of detergent in the wake of the vacuum cleaner, we can mop the place with disinfectants to complete the entire cleaning operation in one go. This way, I intend to make cleaning my room easier and fun. I have given it a wireless control so that i can clean my room from the sofa.

Your design looks quite interesting. I rather resembles a baby elephant. Have you named your robot?

Yes i have infact named my robot. I am calling him “Cracker”. My sister came up with the name because, the first time we assembled him, he developed cracks.

That is quite amusing. What are the components you have used?   

I have used a 2.4GHz wireless transmitter and receiver, squared geared motor, 200 RPM Basic gear motor, relay board for the controls and a regular CPU DC fan for the suction mechanism on the vacuum cleaner.

Wow! So, temme what kinda robots capture your fascination?

I like all kind of robots, but the one kind of robot that captivates me a lot is a humanoid robot. I envision a future where robot helpers can change the way humans live.

That is cool. One last question before we move on, what are your ambitions in life? What do you plan to do with your knowledge that you learnt here?

I want learn everything there is about robotics. So, I will learn robotics in engineering and build better robots.

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Geek Speak: Sendhan

“Distance means so little when passion means so much”. Words like these stand the test of time. What’s all the more impressive is the fact these aren’t false. Several instances that we come across in our daily lives reiterate these facts. It’s the weekend and students are back here at Kidobotikz as usual. Everybody is here already gearing up for the next of Kidobotikz’s festivities- KRG. Students discuss projects and ideas with their trainers in anticipation for narrowing down on ideas that they can make a working model out of so that they get to display the same at Kidobotikz’s coveted event. I enter a room full of enthused young guys who are all here working on some tech fuelled concept of their own. The fact that it is a saturday and they are learning some serious science seems to be lost upon them. Most other children would rebel against the idea of science on a saturday. But for these gentlemen, it is a part of their fun and frolic. I stumble upon a young gentleman, Sendhan, who is hard at work figuring out how to solve the issue plaguing the bot he has assembled. Following are the excerpts from this interesting conversation:

Hi Sendhan! Temme a bit about yourself:

Hi! I am Senthan of Class 9, RMK Senior Secondary School, Thiruverkadu.

Thiruverkadu? Isn’t that far?

Yes. It is quite far. Infact, it takes me close to an hour to come all the way from there. But, I don’t feel it so bad cos whatever time I spend on the bus, I still get to have fun building robots.

What level are you in? And how is your course progressing?

I am in the Advanced level. The course is going good. Infact, I am here to work on a project that could be displayed the upcoming KRG. I wanted to do something interesting and this I believe is the right platform for me to express that. I am developing a Self-balancing robot.

Project, you say. Can you explain what you are working on?

As I said already, I am working on a Self-balancing robot. It is a robot which has only two wheels. This makes it inherently unstable. I have developed codes that when executed will make the bot stand upright on its own without falling over.

How have you accomplished this?

Basically, I have used an 3-axis accelerometer which is capable of sensing movement in all 3 direction.  This means that the arduino microprocessor can keep track of the stability of the robot in all 3 directions and control the wheel rotation accordingly so that the robot remains upright.

This interesting. Are you aware of any potential applications for this kind of technology?

I am aware of many applications for such a system. Infact, most humanoid robots of the future could be stationed on self balancing wheels that are capable of standing upright and moving around with ease. Even the White ranger on Power Rangers SPD has a unibike which would use a similar principle. (laughs).

Moving on, what is your favourite course among the 4- Electronics, Mechanics, Algorithm and Programming?

I just love programming. I have always liked it over the other subjects. As a matter of fact, I can code on Arduino and I have learnt C as well. So programming ot is. But since the other subjetcs are important to build a bot, I try to keep in touch with them too.

What do you plan to do for your higher studies? Do you think the robotics that you learnt here is a part of your plan?
Robotics is the only plan. After class 10, I plan to take up computer science in 11 n 12. Since, computer science involves programming, I think I will be at comfort learning the courses. After that I am aiming to take up Mechatronics for my Bachelors. I wanna work towards making better robots.

Wow! That is quite interesting. I wish you all the best. Thank you for your time.

Thank you.   

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Geek Speak: Suryaprakash

In this pressure cooker-esque world of education and competition, it is a never ending battle between fun and scholastics for children. The ever increasing burden of the curriculum always tends to knock the timeslot of play out of children’s routines. Sometimes even hobby and passions get caught in the crossfire of rigorous learning. These get flung out as well. The more kids move through high school, the more play-time loses its turf to tuitions, coachings and other study-related activities. With this being the case, even edutainment loses its turf to mainstream education. Let’s discuss one such curious case.

Meet Suryaprakash, a ninth grader from DAV School, Adambakkam. His tale is one that is getting increasingly regular in today’s high intensity education system. Suryaprakash, who recently graduated from Kidobotikz, is an old student. Surprisingly it has taken him 3 years to complete his robotics course from commencement to finish. I ask him why and he immediately cuts a sorry figure. He says his schedule is jam packed with schooling and classes that he hardly got any leisurely weekends in the last 3 years to take up robotics and finish it in a stretch. He completed his courseware somewhere towards the end of 2014, but couldn’t spend enough time on his passion thanks to his rigorous schooling. Suryaprakash, who feels his school could do a little bit more to encourage science fairs and contests on the premises, has not displayed any robotic experiments at school. Nor do his friends and teachers know that he is learning robotics at such a young age. On the other hand, he has been quite active in all of Kidobotikz conducted robotic events. He says he has participated in robotic events all the way back to Kidobotikz Robo Games 2014 where he participated in the December edition. In all these events, he has fielded a variety of projects ranging from “feed the fish” in the dec-2014 edition to a “Home Automation” concept in April 2015. He was also a part of the Kidobotikz team which visited NIT Calicut to take part in the events there. It all started when he accidentally discovered about Kidobotikz courses when he was in the vicinity to buy a Solar panel for his own project.

After completing his Graduation recently, he is now taking up Raspberry Pi classes at Kidobotikz where he is learning programming, his favourite area of interest. However, luck isn’t always on his side. The weekend classes that he takes here are now clashing with his IIT-JEE coaching classes which also fall on the weekend. So, he had to request the Kidobotikz management to allow him to take compensatory classes. His trainers, sympathetic to his cause and appreciative of his interest to learn, now take separate classes for him on Saturday evenings after he visits Kidobotikz on his way back from IIT-JEE classes. One cannot help but feel awe for this 15 year old who shuttles his way across the city to balance academics and passions. He dreams of doing a Bachelors degree in Mechatronics at one of the IITs.

Happy Roboting ! !       

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Geek speak: Vidhyasagar

“The hands are the instruments of man’s intelligence” said Maria Montessori once. Of course, she knew much better than anybody about the value of practical learning and the positive impact it can have on the development of children. However, we at Kidobotikz take a sense of pride when we realize that we have actually taken the type of education that bears her a few steps forward and included more science and math in it than her methods of pedagogy could ever achieve. The result is a rather ever growing pool of Kidobotikzians who develop wonderful working models here at Kidobotikz after learning the concepts in a manner that the conventional model of the education system fails to imbibe. 

It is sunday afternoon and all around the city is somber after a tiring week and is gearing up for a new week ahead. However, back at Kidobotikz, the activity is quite buzzing. I enter the exam hall/ makeshift makerspace that Kidobotikz students use to display their prowess in their learned concepts of robotics. For six days a week this place is a beehive of activity with students pouring in from across the city to try out new experiments and apply newer concepts of robotics to add a newer tech-edge to their bots. This weekend is no different.

Meet Vidhyasagar, a 10th grader from Jawahar Vidyalaya. Most students I meet are usually new entrants at Kidobotikz and are usually still in their courses. Vidhyasagar is quite different. He is a veteran here at kidobotikz. Having completed his Graduation from Kidobotikz almost two years ago, he still cannot resist his urge to come here every other weekend. He is here this weekend to try out a new experiment where he builds a bluetooth controlled robot that can be controlled using a mobile phone. For the same, he has already developed an android application capable of controlling his bluetooth controlled robot. While this be a source of wonderment for any onlooker, this is business as usual for Vidhyasagar. He spends most of his time building robots and other gizmos and spends his time working on newer concepts. Thanks to the vicinity of Kidobotikz makerspace to the store of SP Robotic Works, he gets all the access he needs to high end tools that are required in making a new gizmo. He claims proudly that ghe churns out a new project every other weekend thanks to all the support he can get from his parents and trainers at Kidobotikz. 

I ask him if he has won any event and he immediately immerses himself into counting. After almost a minute of counting, he says he has won 28 events related to robotics ever since joining Kidobotikz, much to my bewilderment. This robotics whizkid has participated in a myriad of robotics tournaments across the country and also visited Singapore for a robotics competiton where he featured his robot in the open category against other robots in a “Sumo-wrestling”-type format. He regrets losing in that event and hopes to make it back there sometime with a much better bot. He has even visited Indian universities such as NIT & IIT and taken part in events against college students. This wunderkind hopes to study at IIT Kanpur and is planning to start preparations for his JEE from next year. As of now it is just robotics and class 10th studies for this geek who aims to pursue a career in Mechatronics someday.

Happy Roboting ! !

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