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Gary Mayer, PhD and assistant professor of computer science in the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering, along with engineering students, visited Edwardsville’s Worden Elementary School in late March for its annual Space Day.

Worden hosts Space Day each spring to give fifth-grade students a variety of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) experiences. 

Mayer and his students provided three separate groups of approximately 20 Worden students with a presentation about robotics. Afterward, student members of the SIUE Special Interest Group - Robotics (SIG-R) demonstrated various robotic platforms. 

“My students and I are always impressed by the breadth and depth of the questions asked by the Worden Elementary students,” Mayer said. “They are a diverse group and all of them are entirely engaged in the presentation and demonstrations. It’s our hope that we can spark their imaginations and motivate them to want to learn more.”

One of the favorites among Worden students was Puppy-bot, a dog-shaped robot built from a bioloid robotic kit. Puppy-bot responds to audio prompts (clapping) and performs various tricks, such as shaking his head, doing a dance, doing a headstand and rolling over. Puppy-bot also sits, lies down and then goes to sleep after a period of inactivity. 

The SIUE student demonstrators were Cathy Casey of O’Fallon, SIG-R vice-president and computer science major; Jared Charter of Bonfield, SIG-R president and major in electrical and computer engineering; Cameron Costanzo of East Alton, SIG-R treasurer and major in electrical and computer engineering; Bryan Orabutt, SIG-R secretary and major in electrical and computer engineering.

SIG-R is open to all SIUE students with an interest in robotics. The group is currently building an autonomous robot golf cart to compete in the International Ground Vehicle Competition (igvc.org) in June.

Photo: A Worden Elementary fifth-grader controls Puppy-bot with (l-r) Gary Mayer, Cameron Costanzo and Cathy Casey.