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Robotics

PEF has partnered with the PUSD to create a Robotics education program.  Within the course, students learn how to build and program Robotic systems that incorporate sensors and motors to accomplish a variety of complex tasks. By engaging in exciting hands on applications, students practice and reinforce key concepts in engineering, computer programming, and mathematics, all while strengthening problem solving skills.  The program culminates in an exciting Robotics Competition.

The Pasadena Educational Foundation, in partnership with the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD), supports middle school robotics education programs. The Robotics courses teach students how to build and program Robotic systems that incorporate sensors and motors to accomplish a variety of complex tasks. By engaging in exciting hands-on applications, students practice and reinforce key concepts in engineering, computer programming, and mathematics, all the while strengthening problem-solving skills.

200 middle school students from across PUSD will be showcasing their robotics skills at this year’s space-exploration-themed competition, Robo Rally 2017: “ROVE!” sponsored by the Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF). PUSD students will build and program “planetary rovers” that will race against time to ensure the survival of a colony on a distant Mars-like planet. The rovers will have to make their way on the course, touching two markers before they cross a laser finish line. Competition will be held on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at Sierra Madre Middle School from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The Robo Rally competition is the culmination of the hard work the students have done throughout the year in robotics classes. This event is open to the community and designed to be exciting and challenging for students, but also fun and entertaining for spectators. Community leaders and volunteers assist as race officials. There will be a 11′ x 17′ jumbotron projecting an aerial view of the course as the robots compete.


Robo Rally 2016 “Fast & Furious


More than 100 middle school teams from across PUSD showcased their robotic skills at this year’s Robo Rally 2016: “Fast and Furious!”. The students build and programmed robotic race cars to get to the garage on the other side of town as fast as possible. Adding to the programming complexity vehicles may be challenged to a “game of chicken” on a narrow road before reaching the garage.


Robo Rally 2015 “Race to the Core!”


Superintendent Brian McDonald presents
the 2015 Robo Rally trophy to
Mr. Dev, Logan Terry, and Shanthi Robinson
the winning team The eLEMONaters
from Sierra Madre Middle School.

On Friday, April 24 more than 200 middle school students from across the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) gathered at Pasadena High School to showcase their robotic skills at this year’s Robo Rally “Race to the Core!” sponsored by the Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF). The students competed to “Race to the Core!” of the galaxy with their autonomous robotic spaceships, while avoiding the asteroid belts blocking their path. This event is designed to be exciting and challenging for students, but also fun and entertaining for spectators. There was a 15’x20′ jumbotron projecting an aerial view of the 24′ spiral galaxy course as robots raced on it.

Robotics classes in PUSD middle schools is a program supported by the Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF). Robotics classes are offered at most middle schools in the PUSD. Robotics classes are taught by PUSD math or science teachers that go through special robotics training supported by the PEF.

KABC TV Channel 7 came out to Robo Rally. Watch the Video!

 


Robo Rally 2014


Watch as the teams from Eliot and Sierra Madre take home the top prizes in the final heat of the 2014 PEF Robotics Competition, Robo Rally! At Robo Rally robots, programmed by student teams, compete to be the fastest across a course containing obstacles and open straight-aways, in a series of no-holds-barred head-to-head races with up to 8 robots at a time!

Approximately 200 Pasadena Unified School District middle school robotics students gathered in the Pasadena High School Gym on May 20, 2014 to compete in Robo Rally, a district-wide PEF sponsored robotics competition. Congratulations to all for a great competition.


The robots used in class are the LEGO Mindstorms NXT robot, and the programming languages taught is either RobotC or NXT-G, depending on the school. Robotics classes are offered at most middle schools in the PUSD. Classes are taught by PUSD math or science teachers. The teachers go through training in Robotics supported by PEF. Classes are offered as electives during the day.