Westridge Robotics Students Code, Wire, and Solder in Mini Car Project

Article and Photos courtesy of WESTRIDGE SCHOOL MARCH 16, 2022

Westridge Upper School students were busy building cars on Monday afternoon in Robotics Teacher Autumn Rogers’ class. Rogers created kits for the students with a laser-cut wood chassis, or the base frame for the car. In teams, students used the software Onshape to 3D model and later print tires. Now, they are in the process of putting everything together which includes wiring the motors, motor driver, and radio receiver, as well as coding in C++ programming language.

Next up? Students will next have to figure out how to use a sensor, such as a button, to drive the car! And these cars may stick around until the end of the semester, as Rogers adds on challenges for the students to complete.

Rogers pointed out that students are picking specializations (such as a focus in soldering or putting the actual parts together) as a result of working in a group setting. She said the overarching goal of the class is for students to understand physical computing, or how to use computers to interact with the physical world.