Stuyvesantls Sequel:

Making the Robotl Part II

US $2.00 CAN$3.00 march 2002 stuypulse.org nn 52> ULTIMATELIFE SAVER: RESCUE ROBOTS MEET JACK! . MEET THE STUY ROBOTICS TEAM 694! I from the co-presidents &co-editors I

FACULTY PrincipalStanley Teitel Assistant PrincipalTechnologyJeffrey Levin ResearchCoordinator Anne de Sostoa Manwell RoboticsTeamAdvisor Rafael Col6n

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STUYVESANT ROBOTICS CLUB Co-Presidents Elliot Levy-Bencheton, Brendan Moore Vice President Gordon Franken FTER THE SUCCESS WE HAD ELCOME TO POPULAR Treasurer Georgia Faust IN OUR ROOKIE YEAR WE STUYENCE, OUR WAY OF Secretary Elton Kwok Markatlng Liz Alspector documenting exactly "what's Athought that nothing could slow W Publicity Daniele Hauptman us down in getting a jump on organiz- new and what's next" with Team 694 in strategy David Goluskin ing and fundraising for our second year our second year of FIRST Robotics. OeslgnAndrew Moldovan in FIRST. We had such grand plans. A lot is new! We have tons of new EngineeringBen Zelnick Procurement Daniel Norat Elliot and I were in Calculus together members, and more girls than ever! FieldConstruction Ethan Heller when we heard the first plane hit the Thankfully there are new uniforms-we ProgrammingTayeb AI Karim World Trade Center. We could see it swam in the old ones-with a new --_n n n '.".".------

clearly from our classroom window. female friendly twist. Liz and I promise ENGINEERING TEAM Stuyvesant High School is one of eight to actually wear them at the competition! lIya Blay,Andrew Blum, Terry Chan, May Cheng, public schools that sat in the shadow of We're thrilled to have all our old Beekey Cheung, David Coen, Alex Ellis, Ian Ferguson, the World Trade Center. Robotics Team mentors return, and we have wonderful Amanda Kwok,Justin Lee, Leo Li, Eddie Lei, Aviv Ovadya, Chun-Che Peng, David Portnoy, Joe Aicci, 694 used to hang out in their Borders new ones like Daniele's Dad, Mel Haupt- Jeanne Aoig-Irwin, Alzaber Rubayat, Samuel Book Store when the robotics lab was man and lan's Dad, Tom Ferguson and Subbarao, William Silversmith, Brad Stronger, closed. They let us play chess on the TEEN PEOPLE Editor Isabel Gonzalez. Kerem Tangul, Matthew Welsh, Sergei Yani,Tainwei floor behind their sofas. Last year's team captivated the entire Xiong, Ji-Feng Zhu n n__- I helped set up triage that day before school so much that Mr. Levin intro- MARKETING TEAM we had to evacuate when the towers fell duced a Senior Double Period Tech Lab Helena Chan, Sam Dishy,Eugene Epshteyn, Elina and the debris field hit our school. "Run for Advanced Robotics. FIRST is part of Galperin, Eddie Kalletta, Elyssa Lacson, Theresa North, al,1d Good Luck," said a teacher. the curriculum now! We raised money Langschultz, Nikki Marchan, Jenny Mathews, Laura We were out for more than a month so to renovate the old Robotics Lab so we Paliani, Valentina Popova, Vicki Siavina, Daniela Sorokko, Allison Wright, Nelli Zaltsman, T~ia Zhang that Stuy could be used as the headquar- have new equipment-and best of all- ...... ------...... ------...... ters for the search and rescue effort. We STORAGE! The Engineers might actual- MENTORS want to thank the sponsors who con- ly find all the parts they need this year, Christina Albee, Abi Arbel, Rachel Bradley, James tributed money to put our school and and they won't spend hours picking up Carpino ('B9), Carolyn Chauncey, Tom Ferguson, our teams back together, and the many after themselves! John Frankie ('54), Amy Galleazzi, Janis Gaudelli, schools around the country who sent We kept in touch with "Wilma," invit- Isabel Gonzalez, Daniel Greenstein, Fred Hansen, Mel Hauptman, Steve Hilton, Ray Harris ('01), ing her to a school meet at Stuy in June thousands of origami cranes and posters Ed Jackson, Larry Kirshbaum, Ceil McCarthy. Elliott and wishes. We want to particularly and hosting Team 522 at Grand Central Naishtat ('61), Evan J. Narcisse, Catherine thank the 500 teachers who kept their in January to meet the Rescue Robots Newstadt, Irving Ojalvo, Lauren Aenaud, cool and who helped evacuate more from the World Trade Center. We also Christopher Seluga, Lang Whitaker, Andy Woo ('96) ------...... -_.------_...... ------than 8,000 students without a serious became mentors with the LEGO League, PARENTS helping to introduce it to District 2 injury that day. Roksana Karim, Benita Berkowitz, Vladimir Bley, Did you know that an entire team of schools in Manhattan. IS 89 which is Connie Burke, Ruth Coen, Stan Coen, Keren robots gathered at the WTC for twelve across the street from Stuy was to be Eisenberg, Carol Franken, Tom Franken, Shelley days to aid the rescue efforts? NY City one of our LEGO League teams, but they Grant, Jim Heller, Abby Laufer, Cornelia Levy- saw first hand how robots can change were displaced from their school Bencheton, Ann Moore, Donovan Moore, Carmen Norat, Mike Norat, Susan Scher, Esther Smith, the world. Team 694 was a bit nervous because of September 11. We hope they Larry Zelnick last year as a rookie. Today even our will take our rain check for help next n ".."".." "."."..".

freshman-it was only their fifth day year. We'd like to invite IS 89 to watch SPONSORS of school on September II-have us WIN at Columbia. In fact, we might The AOLTWFoundation nerves of steel. We won't be nervous invite all of Lower Manhattan to come AVONProducts Foundation John F.Welch Foundation this year because we're just grateful to see us. We are a family now. Just like Lucidity Awards and Signage be here to compete in our second Team 694- POPULAA SCIENCE FIRST Robotics competition. Stuyvesant Alumni Association TEEN PEOPLE ....------...... ------...... -..---

Printed by ~ Master Printing, Inc. Brendan Moore Elliot Levy-Bencheton LizAlspector 445 Industrial Road, Carlstadt, NJ 07072 Co-President Co-President Co-Editor CCo-Editor T - 201.B42.9100, F - 201.842.9393

02 POPULAR STUYENCE MARCH 2002 WWW.STUYPULSE.OAG WHAT'S NEW WHAT'S NEXT Ee

Whatts New 4 New mentors, new members, new name, new curriculum, new robot parts and, hopefully, new uniforms. Newsfronts 7 The latest from the frontiers of science. The Stuyvesant Robotics Team hosts the World Trade Center Rescue Robots at Grand Central; The LEGOLeague debuts in NYC with help from 694; Alaskan robotics students win Siemens Westinghouse award. Features 10 Making the Robot: Part Dm Behind the scenes with the Stuyvesant Robotics Team. Firsthand 13 Is it new? We test it, 10 drive it, try it first. Bright kids soup up smart toys. Departments 2 FROM THE CO-PRESIDENTS & CO-EDITORS 5 LETTERS 14 FYI 15 LOOKINGBACK

WWW.STUYPULSE.ORG POPULAR STUYENCE MARCH 2002 03 Sidewalk Speed: A Hot New Ride

The SegwayTMHuman Transporter (HT), which until recently was referred to only as "IT," is a two- wheeled self-propelled scooter that travels about 12 mph. Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway HT,also founded the FIRST Robotics Competition and invented a wheelchair capable of climbing stairs. The Segway, developed at a cost of $100 million, is a complex network of hardware and software that senses change in the center of gravity and adjusts to maintain balance. It has no brake, throttle, or gearshift and it works for a full day on five cents' worth of energy. The Segway HT should become available for consumer purchases by the end of 2002 for around $3,000. Team 694 tracked down a demo with the Postmaster General whose letter carriers are testing the Segway in Tampa, Florida. It's an unbelievable ride!

Welcome New Mentors! Mel Hauptman's first interest in robotics came from watching last year's competition (daughter Daniele is on the marketing team). As a civil engineer with the US Envi- ronmental Protection Agency, Mel works with problems such as water supply. "I'm not a computer geek," he says, though he has found himself to be a bigger help than he Goodbj~ Mr. Ng: expected. Tom Ferguson is the father of freshman twins Ian and David. He has been Hello Mr. Col6n hooked on Team 694 since he toured Meet Mr.Col6n, our new men- Stuyvesant last year. Tom, the head of the tor helping us in the FIRST Engineering Department at Cox & Company, Robotics Competition this was impressed with Stuy's Robotics Lab and Team 694's 2001 year. This is his second year at FIRST experience. He sees his mentors hip as a chance to help Stuy where he teaches com- kids develop their ideas, but also keep them down to earth. Tom is puter engineering, computer delighted that the veteran team members are accepting new networking and drafting. ideas and working with the lower classmen so well. What is his favorite part of the competition? FINISHING!

WWW.STUYPULSE.ORG 04: POPULAR STUYENCE MARCH 2002 The Infrared Sensor Another cool robot part new to the FIRST Robot- ics Competition is the infrared sensor or optical sensor. It emits a beam of infrared light at a piece of reflective tape mounted on the goals. The tape is a special material which has the unique ability to reflect light back to the sensor. When the sensor receives the reflected light, certain robot actions like the tracking of a goal or the shooting of a ball can be stimulated.

InThe Classroom: Sign Up for a Double Lab New Parts: The FIRSTCompetition has inspired Stuyvesant High School to such an extent that it has added a new robotics class this year - only six months after Stuy's The Chiapaua Rookie Robotics Team became a finalist in the New York Regional Competition The unusual aspect of this at Columbia University. This class, created and taught by Jeffrey Levin,the year's new motor is its name: Assistant Principal of Technology, encourages "great applications of academ- the Atwood Mobile or Chia- ics, math and science" through robotics. The paua motor. This is the first class, open to both Junior and Senior students, year the Chiapaua is allowed spreads the message of FIRSTand increases in the FIRST Robotics Com- awareness and interest in the Stuyvesant petition. Its high torque and Robotics Team. Mr. Levin's success in transport- wide range of RPM allow the ing the spirit of FIRST Robotics into a public high robot to employ numerous school classroom has inspired teachers from operational abilities. This nearby schools, such as McKee High School to 12-volt DC motor can be consider the possibility of adding FIRSTto their adapted for a specific curriculum. design and function of the robot and is priced between $50 and $200. Its highest Skirtin.9. The efficiency level is at approxi- Issue: New mately 60%-5,000 RPM and Uniforms 40 oz. inches of torque- making the motor a high- with Style! quality mechanism ideal for Prized The Marketing team capturing and launching looked to Isabel Gonzalez, balls. The Chiapaua motor Premiums the Trendspotting Editor can be used in collaboration What could possibly of TEENPEOPLE, to help with several other motors, beat last year's yo-yo? give our jumpsuits a little enabling the robot to oper- Wait and see. more style. ate effectively.

The Newbies There's been an increase of fresh faces on the Robotics Team, including a number of Freshmen. New to Marketing is Theresa Langschultz, 14. "I've had experience with robots before, but mar- keting has helped me understand the creative aspects of robotics," she says. New additions to the Engineering Team are Ian Ferguson and Amanda Kwok,both 14. Ian says, "When I started at Stuy, Iwas nervous. But I feel comfortable on the Robotics Team. We act and feel like a big family."As one of the only two girls on Engineering, Amanda feels welcomed. "It's fun to take stuff apart and joke around. Now Mr. Colon has to say, 'Ladies and Gentlemen.'''

WWW.STUYPULSE.ORG POPULAR STUYENCE MARCH 2002 as snow, but you can all make snowmen or whatever afterward, it's ok. The meeting is going to be Saturday from 10 to 3. We'll be starting work on Pop Stuy (the chairman's award submission), looking through photos, eating cookies, and all doing various jobs. I'm gonna be a little late...well probably very late since my orthodontist never really sticks with the time schedule for his appointments...but I will definitely be there. See you tomor- row! -Daniele, Sophomore

Memory Lane Hey everybody, this is Jesse Newman from last year's team. I wish everyone That's AU Folksl Cool DigsDudel the best of luck. I'm really impressed at Well it's been fun, exasperating, hectic, educational, inspi- Dear Stuyvesant, the level of organization this year, espe- rational, (ok, you get the point) 6 weeks. Today, in our twelfth Congratulations on second place in cially considering you guys were in hour, we did as much as we could, and I can't seem to remem- your rookie competition, we were in the Brooklyn Tech for a while and Mr. Ng ber what. We were able to practice for awhile, and during that alliance with you, but we were the alt. isn't at Stuy anymore. time we had numerous technical difficulties, including drain- Anyway, we were just wondering where For all of you Freshpeople and other ing both batteries. Well, now we know what problems we you guys got those mechanic's suit folks new to the team, I must say that might face. On a positive note, the pit crew was able to change things, we really liked them and want to the Robotics team really was the best the battery in one minute. get them for next year. Congratulations, thing that I ever did in High School. The crate is amazing! It is roomy, and the robot will be very -Mike, Team 375: Staten Island Tech First of all, you get to work with your comfortable in there for the next month. We tried to smuggle "Robotic Plague" hands and apply some of the informa- James in the crate as well. tion that you learn in classes to actual We probably should meet once or twice a week till 6 or so. Mike, What a great day. Congrats to materials. If you take computer science And use that time to work on the second robot, and duplicate you too. Our jumpsuits were donated by or one of the shop classes this is espe- parts. And, oh yeah, clean up. our sponsor, Time Warner Cable. You cially the case. Second of all, robotics is -Gordon, Freshman can find them online at dickies com, I just plain fun. Sure, the competitions think. So we might have looked well are really really great amazing fun (espe- Mentor, FoDed AgaIDl dressed, but we didn't have to spend our cially FLORIDA) but just building the A few minutes ago, I was crumpling a piece of aluminum budget on clothes, thank goodness. robot is a blast. Seeing a few abstract foil from some take-out food, and the aluminum foil became -Brendan, Sophmore drawings (man, those things were to me a material, and I began thinking, how can I use this on abstract) turn into a real functional a robot? Huh? I AM GOING CRAZY!!!!!! For the past six Ruled Out robot, and then see that robot perform weeks, I have done nothing but eat, drink and sleep over General rule #J. - instead of arguing excellently at a competition was an designs and sideswiping the rest of my life too and JUST ONE for 4 hours about whether to do some- unforgettable thrill. MORE PIECE OF ALUMINUM. I don't want to see another thing or not, just get it done. By the way, I'm attending Rensselaer piece of aluminum for a month. General rule #2 - Nothing tried, nothing Polytechnic Institute so if anyone has But of course, it's not over yet. I want to congratulate you learned. You don't learn from inaction, any questions about it or college in gen- all on a job well done. In the nick of time, you delivered the you learn from experience whether it be eral, I'm here. goods and the robot is on its way to competition. I am amazed from success or failure, you still learn. -Jesse, Alum ('01) by the way you worked together in the final hour. I AM FLAB- General rule #3 - All things being BERGASTED BY THE WAY YOU WORKED TOGETHER IN equal the simplest explanation must be Got An Idea...Nevermind THE FINAL HOUR. I didn't know you had it in you. From the true-Occams razor-this does not I have an idea for a way to pick up quick debugging, to the repair tests, from the last minute addi- apply to robotics. balls. However, I need a set of rollerblade tions to your commitment to beating the clock, you have all General rule #4 - Measure twice cut wheels. If anyone has some extra, I sure placed me in what for lack of a better name I must call Awe. once...Not cut twice measure once. :) could use them. If you have them, bring Enjoy your vacation... Mr. Ng please let me know when I General rule #5 - If you don't ask you em in on Friday. Thanks. should come by to clean up. don't get. Read: ask questions. -Joe, Freshman Your disoriented mentor,James General rule #6 - Two heads are better than one. Read: work together. Just a reminder, we can't use roller Who Done It? General rule #7 - Nothing ventured blade wheels on the robot. However we In case word hasn't spread, the box is here. It's in the wood nothing gained (see #2) includes not could theoretically fabricate our own lab because it doesn't fit anywhere else. Somebody wanna tell spending all the clubs money or deciding similar wheels. Or see if Small Parts or me why the hasps are broken off? Also, somebody wanna tell on strategies too early on. Skyway sells such small wheels. me who were the ingenious folks who decided to nail the door Hope this helps. Elliot, Senior -Gordon, Sophmore shut? Notification sometime soon about unpacking will be Huh? leaked eventually. Come RaID, Sleet or SNOWI -Mr. Ng First off, good meeting today (right? I forgot, but why do we need the Yeahh you know it was fun) and those football mount? of you who didn't come please try to get -William, Freshman your butts over to the robotics lab tomorrow!! I know it's supposed to

06 POPULARSTUYENCE MARCH 2002 WWW.STUYPULSE.ORG REPORTED BY ELLIOT LEVY-BENCHETON news fronts RESCUE ROBOTS ROBOTS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD Team 694 invites rescuerobots to revisit New York to show us how.

ENEATHTHERUBBLEAND the smoking wreckage, into narrow sewage pipes and passageways, B with sensors and cam- eras built to detect survivors, and in constant contact with emer- gency rescue workers above, about a dozen tough little robots Six members of the sought out life on September 11, John Blitch, an Army robotics Columbia University and the New Stuy Robotics Team 2001. Immune to fatigue and expert and Director of CRASAR York City Board of Education to are featured in the extremely durable, they charged (Center for Robot-Assisted Search learn about the important robot LIFE best seller through debris. Sparing humans and Rescue), and his principal applications. Among the FIRST about September 11. and canines from cave-ins and team leader, Dr. Robin Murphy of Robotics teams invited to share our Their photo is part of photographer Joe flare ups, the robots discovered the University of South Florida. discovery were McKee, Evander McNally's Ground several bodies and directed search Stuy 694 wanted to share our fas- Childs, Taft, Canarsie, Brooklyn Zero Portrait Project workers to areas of possible cination for this unique real world Tech, Thomas Jefferson and Curtis which opened at exploration. These machines are robotics application with our local High Schools. Grand Central and is part of a new, emerging technolo- FIRST robotics community. Student roboticists were amazed now touring the country. This was gy-robot search and rescue-and In early January, Lt. Col. Blitch to see how small and functional the perfect backdrop they were deployed for the first and Dr. Murphy addressed the local these search and rescue robots are. to invite the robots time ever in New York City at the FIRST Robotics community at an We learned how the "shape shifter" who helped the World Trade Center disaster site. event at Grand Central Station cele- robot is the most useful at the site. rescue workers at the WTC site demo When Stuyvesant Robotics Team brating the Ground Zero's human Dr. Murphy explained that the most the emerging 694 learned about these robots in heroes. Team 694 invited a wide critical period for locating survivors technology called the days immediately following the spectrum of guests including the after a disaster is the first 48 hours. "robot-assisted WTC disaster, (three blocks from local FIRST Robotics Teams, men- Robots are important during that search and rescue" for New York FIRST our home base at Stuy) we were tors, parents and students from time because they can withstand teams. inspired to arrange a visit by the on- Polytechnic University, Cooper heat and are highly maneuverable. site ground coordinator, Lt. Col. Union College of Engineering, Both Lt. Col.Blitch and Dr. Murphy (continues)

WWW.STUYPULSE.ORG POPULAR STUYENCE MARCH 2002 07 MENTORING FIRST LEGO LEAGUE ANOTHER AMAZING FIRST EXPERIENCE By Gordon Franken I. Saturday, December 15th to witness the success (or failure) of Team 18. The praised the real heroes, human firefighters members of the and workers, and explained that robots playa Stuy Robotics Club complementary role on a rescue team. Blitch had a vested inter- and Murphy provided details of their experi- est in Team 18's ence and expressed appreciation for the results, because we encouraging signs, flags and tributes they had devoted time saw along the West Side Highway as they and effort in assist- returned to the staging area between shifts. Those were the symbols that helped keep ing them in their them going and to stay focused on the work. rookie year. Stuyvesant is proud to have introduced It started in the our FIRST colleagues to this disaster rescue Spring of 2001. We field. Many technologies that we use in the had several meet- FIRST competition are analogous to those ings at the NYC Dis- in search and rescue. NY FIRST EVENT MIXES EQUAL We believe that our work in robotics trict 2 Office presenting to teachers parts tension, excitement, who were interested in instituting a extends well beyond a game or a competi- robotics curriculum in their schools. tion to real work issues such as safety and competition and sports- contributing to solving disaster problems A manship. The FIRST LEGO We gave the teachers advice on how like 9/11. League competition is certainly no to run the club or class, and we exception. explained how we would help men- LEGO League is FIRST's junior tor them and their students. robotics competition for students When the school year began, we ages seven to fourteen. The eight- were looking across the street, in SAVINGLIVES week competition season runs the direction of IS 89 since their WITHROBOTICS annually from mid-October through Principal Ellen Foote was extreme- regional events in December. In col- ly interested in starting an after- Twins Hanna and Heather laboration between FIRST and school robotics club. Unfortunate- Craig from Anchorage, Alas- LEGO,the competition utilizes the ly, the events of September 11th ka are among the national winners in the 2001 Siemens- LEGOMINDSTORMSTMrobotics kit left those plans in upheaval. IS 89 was relocated to Greenwich Vil- Westinghouse Science and and software. Junior high school Technology Competition for their original research teams of up to 10 students put an lage, and we were temporarily sent project, "The Ice-Crawler: The Rescue Robot for enormous effort into designing, to Brooklyn Tech. Snow, Ice and Glaciers." The Craig sisters' goal was building, and programming a robot We looked for others in District 2 to build a robot helpful to humanity. With research, that will compete in the Challenge. who could use our help: IS 131, the girls discovered that no pre-existing robot is Challenge 2001, Arctic Impact, JHS 167, MS 104 and School of the specifically designed to rescue humans trapped involved a 4 x 8 foot playing field, Future were all interested in inte- under ice. This is especially important because representing an arctic ice field. grating LEGO Robotics into their human rescuers are often at risk of falling into the Points were awarded when various ice themselves. The Ice-Crawler consists of two sili- school curriculum or starting after school clubs. School of the Future con-reinforced rubber tracks connected end-to-end objectives were completed. Arctic had built their own robot and made and uses three motors, two for the drive system and Impact was based on the actual field one for steering. The team winners of the Western study of an Arctic Explorer Team. it to the first NYC Regional. Just Regional spent two years working on and research- We were there at the NYC like the varsity robotics competi- ing their project. It demonstrates the potential of Regional FIRST LEGOLeague Com- tion, they were still making modifi- rescue robots and their future role in society. petition on the cold morning of cations in the pit; we were in the

08 POPULAR STUYENCE MARCH 2002 WWW.STUYPULSE.ORG WHEN IT ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY HAS TO GET THERE OVERNIGHT Terry Knight, the CEO of the Canadian company

f~ INUKTUN in British ,~~ turedColumbiathe rescuewho manufac-robots used at Ground Zero told us this story at our Grand Central Exhibition. He faced the impossible task of getting his robots to the World Trade Center to search for survivors. QUGSTION: How do you ship ANYTHING from Nanaimo, BC, Canada (the Robotics Capital of North America) to the site of the World Trade Cen- ter disaster-probably the most security sensitive zone in the Western World days after September stands cheering them on for every STORMS and FIRST LEGO League, 11? (Remember our airports were closed.) round. Uke most rookies, they did- I came to understand what an ANSWER: You address it as instructed by Robin n't win, but they had lots of fun and impact FIRST has made in national Murphy, cover it in stickers indicating that it is: vowed to be back next year. and regional robotics interest. Search & Rescue Robotic Equipment for the New Our neighbor IS 89 was finally What started out as an inventive York World Trade Center. Then you call Fed-Ex. allowed back in to their school and pastime has suddenly become a Fed-Ex picked up the shipment in Nanaimo, across an international border and as far away as you can had their first meeting on Tuesday, full-fledged competition, extracting get from New York and still be in North America, February 5th just less than five creativity from the minds of Junior and confirmed delivery to the Murphy/Blitch team months after the events of Septem- High School students. I was proud in New York in 23 hours! ber 11th. I felt it was appropriate to be part or this experience. Men- How did they do that? We understand that each that the Stuy Robotics Club be toring is not just about sharing time the robots touched down, a Fed-Ex agent there, not only as mentors, but also your expertise, but about benefit- would physically find them, move them to the front as fellow students. We finally got to ing a community. It is also my of the line, ensure that they were loaded for the deliver our plan for mentoring their greatest hope that this community next leg of the trip, and then call Canada with an club and leading them into the 2002 will spawn the next generation of update. That's "six sigma" service, and it's great to have LEGOLeague Competition. engineers, and that they will follow Fed-Ex as a FIRST sponsor. During the six months of my example and continue to involvement with LEGO MIND- spread interest in robotics.

Team694 mentors pose with the "MInd ROOKIES LOVE Lightning" COOKIES LEGO League We still remember what it was team from the like to be a rookie team so we School of the Future. went to the downlink at Brooklyn Polytechnic University with a gift for Rookie Team 335, Science Skills Center High School. (But wait a minute, how can their number be lower than our number?) Anyway, no rookie team ever budgets enough for food, because no rookie team ever understands how many hours they are about to burn building their first competitive FIRST robot. So Team 335, we hope you enjoy that case of Famous Amos from your veteran friends, Team 694 from Stuyvesant High School.

WWW.STUYPULSE.ORG POPULAR STUYENCE MARCH 2002 09 BEHIND THE SCENES OF STUY~S ROBOTICS TEAt'1 6'31f ...... B"'" E:REN[::'AN t-1CIOFi:E ......

10 POPULAR STUYENCE MARCH 2002 WWW.STUYPULSE.ORG E"":=.j It wasship- =::'j.L ping day and it was noth- ing short of a miracle that Robot 694 was ready to load into its crate for its debut at the NY Regionals at Columbia. "No, James, you can't ride with it."

j.::!..:= We had no idea what was ahead, but we were confi- .-:. We were saved when "Wilma" from McKee High =:..=d:'. dent; we had great traction. We could limbo. And 1::.1E:= School picked us in the first draft to join Alliance although we hadn't had time to practice, we knew we could 3 in the semifinals. Wewere so thankful that we vowed to balance two goals on the bridge. never forget 522, the Robo Wizards from Staten Island.

=",,::..,. We looked good. Our overalls (courtesy of Time f':: ...:: We didn't let =::'i':::: Warner Cable) and our yo-yos stood out. Our mar- =::J i them down. We keting team did a first rate job on STUYPEOPLE,and the performed flawlessly entire school knew about the Columbia Regionals. We for the semifinals, posi- were so cool even the Stuy Cheerleaders showed up. tioning the goal, and limboing fast into the end zone. Wilma bal- 1"::1..; Ugh! We forgot we were anced one goal quickly, .: ,. rookies until we made a lot and we made the finals! of rookie mistakes. In one heat, we had a low battery. In another, some- one left the aerial for the radio transmitter back stage. A loose ......

WWW.STUYPULSE.ORG POPULAR STUYENCE MARCH 2002 11 I We knew j. 1 we'dbe back next year to try for that First Place Banner. And we were on our way to Orlando with our confi- dence back...

171°- 1.-1 ancedBut alltwoseemedgoalslostandwhenwe hadan opposingto beat 328teampointsbal- to win. Wilma,with only one goal gripper asked us to take the lead and try.

1 .-1 The Nationals at EPCOTwere ~7-jq- ... WeWEtiedDID IT!the - .::..huge! It was a sea of 15,000 kids score and moved and 327 teams. We had an outstanding opening round, setting the Galileo League into first place! It was the sweetest high score! We Finished at a respectable 43rd out of 83. moment; a memory to be permanently filed. It felt great to pay Wilma back too. 7 FIRST 1 _I put us through four months of hard work. We loved r1 When the 1. ::. opposing almost every alliance came back minute of it, but in their last attempt the team was to beat us by one worn out. We'll small ball-it was be back next year, okay. A Silver Medal and we'll be for a rookie team veterans. was a blast and a great day for Stuyvesant! EDITED BY WilliAM G. PHilLIPS firstha

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THE GREAT BUGOFF New York's brightest students test today's smartest toy. They'resemi-intelligent,loud, and hellbent on a path of destruction. Not teenagers, but rather a new creation designed for them: Bio- Integrated Organisms, or Bio Bugs for short. The new toyfrom Hasbro represents a breakthrough of sorts -it's only $4°, yet it's hardwired ,St1.iyfewtf~'read) with artificial intelligence created their.!i~p~~~P;toys fora' at Sandia National Laboratory. duelto tile death. The result: These toys can work together to complete tasks. bugs can work together to com- the action was still too slow- The toy's inventor, Marc Tilden, plete a given task. think sloths in a fistfight. encourageskidstocrackthemopen The task is often combat, for In short, we were impressed to make improvements. So we gave it's the one game the bugs are with the internal technology, but z ~ < eight bugs to the Robotics Club at designed to play. Yet instead of frustrated with the execution. We u ai z New York City's prestigious Stuy- letting them fight on their own, grew bored after only a few weeks z o vesant High School, and asked the you can control their motion with -the fate of most toys, we under- students to do their best Dr.Frank- a remote. This seemed to negate stand, but disappointing consider- enstein. Here's what they found, in the coolness of the bugs' artificial ing the bug's potential. We had the words of two club members. intelligence, especially consider- much higher hopes.-ELLIOTLEVY- ing they're better brawlers when BENCHETON AND BRENDAN MOORE Artificial intelligence is no you control them yourself. small feat, so we were excited to However, when left to battle on start testing. We quickly found their own, the toys show surpris- A BUG'S the durable toys that ingly intelligent behavior. Bugs NEWLIFE are very adept at behav- from the same "species" (marked Dissatisfied ioral-based learning-that by color) cooperate to overtake with its talents is, they react to their sur- one from a different species. So, as a quadruped, members of roundings. Put a bug in a for example, one bug attacks from New York City's certain layout, and it immedi- the front, another from the back. Stuyvesant ately figures out how to man- The slow, jerky motion belies Has- High School Robotics Club cross- , euver around without bumpivg bro's promise of a "fierce robotic bred this Bio Bug with a set of into anything. The bugs aiso battle." We added two legs to one Lego Mindstorms, producing a communicate via infrared of the four-legged creatures, im- fierce-looking six-legged robot. signals, so two or more proving traction and speed. But What would be the best theme song for a Robot named JACK?

J 11.--- a. "Hit the Road Jack" (RayCharles) b. "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (RollingStones) c. "Black Jack Blues" [FleetwoodMac) d. "Beau Koo Jack" [LouisArmstrong) r- L e. "Jack Rabbit" [EltonJohn)

,Cup ASK POPULAR STUYENCE WHATIS Why DID you name your namesake, and promises ROBOCUP? robot "JACK"? to christen the robot, Robocup is another new frontier according to his publish- in science, technology, and engi- Jack is certainly not the er, Larry Kirschbaum. "To neering discovered recently by most intimidating name truly be like Jack,the the Stuy Robotics Club. It's a for a robot, but behind it robot must be passionate, competition similar to FIRST lies a powerful man with competitive, innovative, Robotics, but whose focus is on a soft spot. Jack Welch, and well built," says Larry. creating robotics soccer games retired General Electric "Stuyvesant is developing to entertain and educate the C.E.D.,made a substantial great people who will public. According to Professor donation to Stuyvesant to make a great product, and Manuela Veloso of Carnegie support our team, to ren- Mr. Welch certainly wish- Mellon's Robotics Institute. The ovate the robotics lab and es them well at Colum- long-term goal of RoboCup is to upgrade our chemistry bia." By the way, in his --:;;:,,;;--, to develop a team of fully labs. As thanks, Team 694 book you'll read that Mr. autonomous robots that can beat has named 2002'S entry Welch thinks chemical most famous C.E.D.from the human world soccer champi- after him. Welch loves engineering is a wonder- the Fortune 5°° is an ons by 2°5°. RoboCup, an inter- the idea of a mechanical ful career choice. (Yes,the engineer!) national competition, in which ------over 35 countries and 3,000 researchers participate, will take place in Fukuoka, Japan in 2002.

H Team 694 brought LMNTlast year Godfrey, the new spokesman for to look cool, what celebrity are they 7-Up to come cheer for "Jack" and bringing this year to the Columbia Team 694. Godfrey PROMISES to Regional for good luck? keep his clothes on no matter how exciting We only came in second in last year's it gets. competition with LMNTwatching. THANKS TO OUR TEACHERS [Their first hit single "Juliet" is very As the Stuy Robotics Team of 2002, we good, by the way.) So this year we not only have a responsibility to prepare thought we'd bring a little celebrity for competition, but to be leaders in our community. After the events of 9ill, we good luck to our stands by asking felt the need to thank the staffs of schools in Lower Manhattan, including IS 89 which was to have been our LEGO League Team. On November 16, Team 694 report- ed to the Time Life Building in midtown Manhattan to put together baskets for 550 teachers and staff. We filled the bags with dozens of goodies, ranging from Sony Dis- cmans to Calvin Klein cosmetics. It was a fulfilling experience for all involved, including the teachers who were com- pletely surprised with the kind gesture on behalf of our sponsor AOL Time Warner and the Robotics Team. (And we won't tell who packed Mr. Levin's bag.)

14 POPULAR STUYENGE MARCH 2002 WWW.STUYPULSE.ORG FROM FIRST TEAM 694'S ROOKIE YEAR lookin back

College Freshman Ray Harris Senior Stuart Deutsch is back as a mentor! went to SUNY Binghamton.

Mr. Ng left Manhattan and is teaching on Long Island.

Last year's President Jeremy Schwartz is a FIRST mentor and went to MIT. (He is taking a class with Woodie Flowers!)

Jesse Newman, now a Freshman at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute says joining team 694 was the best thing he ever did. (See pg 16)

Junior Cheerleader Jenny d'4atthews came just to watch last year and signed up! She'll be wearing a Team 694 uniform this year.

WWW.STUYPULSE.ORG POPULAR STUYENCE MARCH 2002 15