With its bristles aloft, The Broominator might have been imagined as scanning the Capitol committee room for cobwebs.
But the Eagan High School students told the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday (April 23) a different tale about their robot.
The Broominator - its broom a utilitarian approach to moving the large balls, part of robotic competition - was rapidly designed, constructed, and given a simple mission in its electronic life by members of Team Blue Twilight. by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter
With its bristles aloft, The Broominator might have been imagined as scanning the Capitol committee room for cobwebs.
But the Eagan High School students told the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday (April 23) a different tale about their robot.
The Broominator - its broom a utilitarian approach to moving the large balls, part of robotic competition - was rapidly designed, constructed, and given a simple mission in its electronic life by members of Team Blue Twilight.
"I'm glad I don't teach anymore," quipped Rep. Lynn Wardlow, R-Eagan, who took time off from a House floor session to sit-in on the presentation.
Team Blue Twilight, which doubled in size over a year, consists of 33 team members assisted by an advisor and mentors.
Its existence traces back to an idea by inventor Dean Kamen who wanted to foster life skills and leadership in young people while awakening them to wonders of science.
Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and Eagan High School several years ago started a FIRST robotic team.
Sen. Jim Carlson, DFL-Eagan, a member of the education committee, was so impressed with the program he wanted to showcase it.
He was thrilled the team could come to the Capitol, he said.
Although The Broominator could not be put through its paces in the committee room, members of Team Blue Twilight testified to the values found in using old aluminum - scraps possibly leftover from school construction - ingenuity and common purpose.
Team Co-Captain Devin McKinnon told the committee that she realized that becoming involved in the team would be "the hardest fun I've ever had."
Team members spoke of the trial-and-error - the experimentation - that went into building the robot.
A "finger" device on the robot failed to work properly and during a shakedown in the school cafeteria team members realized their robot was keying off "Exit" signs.
Mistakes are one of the biggest things that help them succeed, a team member sagely opined.
Eagan High sophomore Jason Laqua, of the programming team, explained that unlike with a homework assignments, robotics offers second chances.
"In robotics you get to fix your mistakes," he said.
Other team members testified that the skills they learned on the team translated to other courses.
Lawmakers seemed impressed with the students and program.
Sen. Sharon Erickson Ropes, DFL-Winona, remarked how when many adults appear before the education committee they seem "flustered."
Ropes didn't sense any nervousness among the students - confidence, rather, she explained.
A nurse by profession, Ropes spoke of the future of robotics in medicine.
"I think the future is wide open," she said of the technology.
House K-12 Finance Committee Chairwoman Mindy Greiling, DFL-Roseville, a like Wardlow a House floor truant, said the Team Blue Twilight presentation was much more interesting the floor debate.
"I'm so impressed," she said.
The team has won a number of awards for excellence.
But the Eagan High School students told the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday (April 23) a different tale about their robot.
The Broominator - its broom a utilitarian approach to moving the large balls, part of robotic competition - was rapidly designed, constructed, and given a simple mission in its electronic life by members of Team Blue Twilight. by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter
With its bristles aloft, The Broominator might have been imagined as scanning the Capitol committee room for cobwebs.
But the Eagan High School students told the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday (April 23) a different tale about their robot.
The Broominator - its broom a utilitarian approach to moving the large balls, part of robotic competition - was rapidly designed, constructed, and given a simple mission in its electronic life by members of Team Blue Twilight.
"I'm glad I don't teach anymore," quipped Rep. Lynn Wardlow, R-Eagan, who took time off from a House floor session to sit-in on the presentation.
Team Blue Twilight, which doubled in size over a year, consists of 33 team members assisted by an advisor and mentors.
Its existence traces back to an idea by inventor Dean Kamen who wanted to foster life skills and leadership in young people while awakening them to wonders of science.
Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and Eagan High School several years ago started a FIRST robotic team.
Sen. Jim Carlson, DFL-Eagan, a member of the education committee, was so impressed with the program he wanted to showcase it.
He was thrilled the team could come to the Capitol, he said.
Although The Broominator could not be put through its paces in the committee room, members of Team Blue Twilight testified to the values found in using old aluminum - scraps possibly leftover from school construction - ingenuity and common purpose.
Team Co-Captain Devin McKinnon told the committee that she realized that becoming involved in the team would be "the hardest fun I've ever had."
Team members spoke of the trial-and-error - the experimentation - that went into building the robot.
A "finger" device on the robot failed to work properly and during a shakedown in the school cafeteria team members realized their robot was keying off "Exit" signs.
Mistakes are one of the biggest things that help them succeed, a team member sagely opined.
Eagan High sophomore Jason Laqua, of the programming team, explained that unlike with a homework assignments, robotics offers second chances.
"In robotics you get to fix your mistakes," he said.
Other team members testified that the skills they learned on the team translated to other courses.
Lawmakers seemed impressed with the students and program.
Sen. Sharon Erickson Ropes, DFL-Winona, remarked how when many adults appear before the education committee they seem "flustered."
Ropes didn't sense any nervousness among the students - confidence, rather, she explained.
A nurse by profession, Ropes spoke of the future of robotics in medicine.
"I think the future is wide open," she said of the technology.
House K-12 Finance Committee Chairwoman Mindy Greiling, DFL-Roseville, a like Wardlow a House floor truant, said the Team Blue Twilight presentation was much more interesting the floor debate.
"I'm so impressed," she said.
The team has won a number of awards for excellence.
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