Fifth Graders Make Connections to Studies With Hazmat Robot
Main Street School fifth graders, who have been exploring how robots are used in today’s world, welcomed Westchester County Police Detective Thomas Barker, who brought the department’s Hazardous Devices Unit robot to school on June 7.
During a presentation on the basketball court, Detective Barker demonstrated how the 1,000-pound Andros robot by Remotec operates and explained how it’s utilized. The robot can pick up heavy items, check out dangerous areas, and take photos and surveillance of hazardous sites, among others. Operated by Detective Barker, it is tethered to a control panel and features a camera on the tip of the motorized arm extension. The arm also features a motor at each joint, with a claw at the end of the arm.
“The visit made robotics seem real to the students,” Project Lead the Way teacher Gwenn Carney said. “They were able to make connections to how robots can influence the safety of our community and the safety of law enforcement workers.”
Over the last few months, as part of their Project Lead the Way studies, the students have been exploring ways that robots are used to protect the Earth’s resources, as well as their impact on the environment. The Robotics and Automation unit culminated with a final challenge as the students created their own hazmat design to mobilize their robots to remove hazardous materials from a disaster site.
“The students were very excited and enthusiastic about seeing the robot move, and some even touched it,” Carney said. “They asked many thought-provoking questions, mostly related to our own PLTW unit on removal of hazardous waste with robotics. Seeing the robot helped students transfer their knowledge of robotic characteristics to how they operate in authentic scenarios right in our hometowns.”