by Dot Cannon
“How long does it take to make a robot like this one?”
“If we know what we’re doing, three days. This one took three weeks.”
That conversation–over this robot–was just one small part of Saturday’s SoCal MakerCon, in Pomona.
Speakers, exhibitors, interactive displays and drones were all a part of the fun at this first event of its type in the Southern California area. And the main theme was innovation.
One of the first exhibits we saw was this one, courtesy of Cal State L.A.’s “Mad Scientists”. CSULA Kinesiology and Mechanical Engineering professor Sam Landsberger said this solar trike was in its third incarnation.
The “Mad Scientists” had brought both that vehicle, and…
…this dune-buggy wheelchair…
…and they aren’t even close to resting on their laurels. We won’t be a spoiler and tell you what’s in their future blueprints (yet) but think environmental! You might also imagine a second, educational innovation that will soon be a star of field trips and homeschooling curricula.
Student Kristine Belknap was one of the CSULA students onsite, and she had been working on another project.
“Kristine grew up with (technology and making things)”, Professor Landsberger explained. “She’s been doing this for as long as she can remember.”
So, what’s the future for someone who grew up in a “maker” household–before that term existed?
“I’m interested in robotics,” Kristine said.
She (and everyone else) would find plenty of ways to further that interest at MakerCon.
A major crowd draw was the Robot Throwdown, where robots faced off against each other.
Highlights of the face-offs we saw were a flame-operated robot (alas, it met a fiery end in combat) and this bladed entry, which sent its challenger airborne several times before winning the round.
Another popular area was this one.
A personal favorite, though, is this particular 2013 Robotics Competition winner. Not only does it play ball…
…it retrieves the ball for the next toss.
Education, of course, was front and center at SoCal MakerCon.
Inspire Schools offer tuition-free online K-12 collaborative programs. According to their website, their graduation requirements include eight semesters of math and four of a foreign language. Teacher Arlene De Anda, onsite with student Conrad Milliken, talked about her organization’s arts elective.
“We give a thousand dollars to each student (to apply towards independent arts study),” she said.
Conrad had applied his thousand dollars to studying digital media.
“These are all my films,” he said, offering a thumb drive.
Across the hall, another educational organization was giving out literature–and involving young attendees in projects. San Diego STEAM Maker Fest is gearing up for its upcoming event, happening December 6th at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
Most of all, creativity was on display.
People were not only playing games, but designing them.
Laser-cutting, wearables and 3-D printing took center stage, as did maker spaces.
Nonprofit group E-nable was showcasing an especially innovative use of 3-D printing, by creating prosthetic hands!
One of the most intriguing demonstrations by a maker space happened with this scan of a visitor.
The finished image allows 3-D printing of her likeness.
And we especially liked the wearables:
SoCal MakerCon, what an exciting first chapter! We can’t wait to see what comes next.