the BuLo blog

Robotronics Winter Camps are Here!

2011-12-26T03:41:00.000-08:00

Activity-Based learning is the new call for educators in India. With CCE becoming a norm in all CBSE schools, all parents and teachers are looking for options where learning can be more than talk-and-chalk.

Robotics is a field of technology that combines 3 subjects together – Science, Mathematics and Computer Science. This is why we feel Robotics is a great way to implement Activity Based Learning for children for the following reasons:

Work in Collaboration – “Relate”: Robotics activities emphasize on team efforts that involve communication, planning, management and social skills.

Work on Projects – “Create”: Robotics projects make learning a creative and purposeful activity. Students have to define the project (problem domain) and focus their efforts on application of ideas to a specific context.

Work towards a change – “Donate”: Robotics activates stresses on the value of making a useful contribution while learning. The idea that the project can be utilized in real-life situation makes the learning more meaningful.

Robotronics Workshops are being conducted from 3rd Jan to 7th Jan in different centers across Delhi NCR. Says Program Coordinator Swati Sharma,"We have got great feedback from the parents and students after the Summer Camp conducted in May 2011."

The Robotronics Workshops are being conducted at 6 different centers in the Delhi-NCR region - Gurgaon (2 centers), South Delhi, Noida, Connaught Place, Pitampura, Dwarka

Concepts Learnt During the Workshops

Level 1: Mechanical Robots

1. Science: Designing Simple and Complex Machines, Motion, Force, Acceleration, Pulleys, Transfer of Motion etc.

2. Designing: How to design sweep, push, pull, lift and drop mechanisms in Robots?

Level 2: Autonomous Robotics

1. Technology: Mechanics of humanoids, Logic Building, Understanding of sensors

2. Designing: How to humanoid robots with motion through sensors?

Skills Imbibed:

1. Imagination & Creativity

2. Fine Motor Skills & Hand Eye Coordination

3. Problem Solving and Team Skills

For more information, please contact Ms. Swati at 9818403093 or register here.
You can also visit us at Youtube and Facebook

IRC Arena Video is here!!

2011-09-20T04:28:00.001-07:00

Here's the video of the IRC 2011....

IRC 2011 is here!!

2011-09-16T02:52:00.000-07:00

Building Blocks is proud to present the IRC for the 3rd time in a row. This event has created waves amongst the schools children for the past two years.

This time, the event is being held at two locations:

Delhi Public School, Sonepat on 4th Oct 2011

The Shri Ram School, Gurgaon on 14th Oct 2011
For registrations, please contact Swati/Virender at 011-45097452.
You can also register online at ww.bulo.in/irc.aspx

Robotronics - Robotics Learning Sytems

2011-07-11T06:35:00.000-07:00

Every child wants have fun while learning. Kids today love to work on new, exciting and challenging stuff rather than the boring mundane reading.

Bulo Learning Systems for the past 3 years have put in effort to design such systems. Bulo has a range of Robotronics robotics multi model kits. These kits make learning of Science, Mathematics and Computer Science in very enjoyable way.

The kits can be used to design very basic models to highly advanced mechanical working bots as well. This video gives you a sneak peak into the Robotornics Series.

Innovations with Robotronics!

2011-06-24T05:25:00.000-07:00

This robot has been designed using the Robotronics FULL!!!

Designer : Shivank Chandra
School: The Heritage School, Gurgaon

For more information on this kit, visit www.bulo.in

BuLo now in retail shops!!

2011-06-19T22:15:00.000-07:00

The wait is finally over. week, BuLo launched its popular robotics kit , Robotronics LITE in a retail shop at Gurgaon!!
To know more about our retail partners, visit www.bulo.in.

Summer Camps for Kids at Noida and Gurgaon

2011-06-04T06:39:00.000-07:00

After great response from our Batch 1 Summer Camp, Bulo is launching the Batch 2 for the MARS Mission Robotics Summer Camp at our centers.

Noida
Dates: 13th - 17th June
Time: 9 am - 11.30 am
Venue: Prakriti Activity Center, F 72/A, Sec-22, Noida, UP
Workshop Theme: MARS Mission Robotics Summer Camp Level 1 and Level 2

Gurgaon
Dates: 13th - 17th June
Time: 9 am - 11.30 am
Venue: Stones2Milestones, G-124, Oriental Villa, Sushant Lok 3, Sector 57, Gurgaon
Workshop Theme: MARS Mission Robotics Summer Camp Level 1 and Level 2

Weekly Robot - Imperium , the Mega Lifter

2011-05-28T02:48:00.000-07:00

Name of Robot : Imperium the Mega Lifter

Type: Lifting Robot

Features :
1. Hook Lift - 2 ranges
2. Fork Lift
3. Fork Push
4. 4 Wheel Motion Drive

Function : 'Imperium' means powerful in Latin. This robot has a really high torque value and can lift loads of upto 7-9 kg's.

To learn more about this robot, visit www.bulo.in

Weekly Robot - 2D Crane - Robotronics Lite

2011-05-21T02:33:00.000-07:00

Name of Robot: 2 D Crane
Type of Robot: Remote operated
Features:

Ability to move in linear motion
Pick up arm with hook
Pick arm on rotating base

Application: In Industries to transport boxes or bags

Robomania in TOI

2011-04-23T02:05:00.000-07:00

Robomania was listed on the Summer Workshop page on Times of India....

BuLo now a registred mark!!

2011-04-15T06:46:00.000-07:00

Great news for BuLo fans! The BuLo mark is now a registered mark!

BuLo® Channel Partner Training Program

2011-04-15T05:08:00.001-07:00

BuLo^®conducted its first ever Channel Training Program at South Delhi.The Training Program was conducted for our partners coming from different states - Delhi, Haryana And Uttrakhand.

The training began with Mechanical Designing and Software Programming. The partners worked on different BuLo products like BuLo^® Robotronics LITE and BuLo^® Robotronics FULL. The first few sessions focused on basic designing of mechanical robots.They then moved on to gear mechanisms and automated robots.

The training program also covered how to efficiently manage Sessions, conducting Assessment Programs in schools and .

The confidence and dedication of our channel partners is really motivating. We wish them good luck with BuLo^® Learning Systems. Let's make learning fun!

Screw Driver Mysteries.....

2010-11-22T21:06:00.000-08:00

Tightening screws can be bugging at times. You keep rotating the screw driver and the screw refuses to tighten!!

With the Screw Driver Mysteries solved, you can actually get the task done in a few seconds rather than minutes. I have listed a few for you:

1. Right Direction : All screws tighten in the clockwise direction and loosen in the anti-clockwise direction.

2. Right Tip: The tip of the screw driver should be almost equal to the size of the screw's head. This makes sure all the force you apply is directed at the right place.

3. Right Size: Choose your screw driver depending on how much power you require. For more power, use one with a short shank (the part between the tip and the handle) .

If you have resolved any more Mysteries, feel free to share them!

Diwali Celebration

2010-11-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

We had a great Diwali Celebration at our office on Thursday. As it turns out, we are not only good at designing Robots but also at Rangolis :). Well find it hard to believe check the picture below:

IRC 2010 Problem Statement

2010-09-28T04:21:00.000-07:00

Hey Friends!

So you are worried about the IRC-2010? Well, the arena dimensions are here. This would give help in designing the robot according to the track's dimensions.

CWG Robotics Camps this October!

2010-09-27T06:56:00.000-07:00

CWG Robotics Camps this October!

Magical Torque......

2010-09-05T22:04:00.000-07:00

In the post At the Right Angle, I talked about the definition of force and its application in Robotic Arm and Base. In today's post, I will talk about how Torque can create magic!!

We need to apply a bit of mathematics here to understand the magic.

Torque is calculated by the formula:
T = F*d

T is the torque
F is the force applied perpendicular (at 90 deg.) to the axis
d is the distance

By using the above formula, we can calculate torque for Geared systems. Lets, take the example of the gear system below:

Here, we have attached a gear system with a pulley. Let us assume the load on the pulley is 1 kg and the diameter of the pulley is 1 inch. Then the torque would be:

T= F* d = 1 kg * 1 inch = 1 kg-inch

Now, what would be the torque on the Big Gear? The torque transferred on the Big Gear would also be 1kg-inch. This is because the torque remains constant on the shaft, and is transferred to the big gear.

The next step is to calculate the force on contact point B. We know the Torque is 1 kg-inch and the diameter of the Big Gear 1 inch. So,

F = T/d = 1 kg-inch * 1 inch = 1 kg

So now lets calculate the torque on the motor. The force on the Small Gear is 1 kg and its diameter is 1/4 inch. The resultant torque on the motor shaft is:

T= F * d = 1 kg * 1/4 inch = 1/4 kg-inch

Did you see the magic happen?
Torque at motor = 1/4 kg - inch
Torque at Pulley = 1 kg- inch!!

Torque increases magically, but only if we put the gear systems right!

Innovation is Here!

2010-08-29T22:27:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends,

Here is an innovative robot designed by Sahil Rastogi (RDPS). This is a Robotic Claw that can grip objects.

If you have some interesting designs to show to us, mail us at bulo@buildingblocks.in with your name, school and age.

The Powerful Trio

2010-08-22T21:20:00.000-07:00

Okay, so your robotic arm does not pick heavy objects and you cant keep adding Gear Systems (there are really expensive!). So what do you do?

Maybe, you should use the Powerful Trio - Force, Surface Area and Pressure into use. Let me first give you the definitions of the three concepts:

Surface Area: A mathematical term that tells us how much surface is exposed
Force: Any external influence that makes an object move.
Pressure: Force applied per unit area.

Using all three, you can spread the force to an area. Lets take an example of this object lifter:

This lifter has a cool gear system. But notice the Arm is attached through the small axle. It has a small area of contact on the Long L Clip.

Less the surface area, more is the net pressure on the area of contact. And the resultant force on the shaft of the motor makes it difficult to pick objects.

Here's the solution. Design the robot in such a way so that the pressure is distributed to different contact points.

This Object Lifter can lift greater load as we now have two points of contact where pressure is well distributed.

The Powerful Trio definitely makes your robot more powerful!!

At the Right Angle

2010-08-18T02:04:00.000-07:00

What is Torque?

Torque is a force that tends to rotate objects. Any rotating body has three parts:

1. Origin of axis: The point around which the body rotates.

2. Distance of arm : The origin and the point at which force is applied

3. Angle of force: The angle between the arm and force applied.

The angle of force is very crucial. Any force directed parallel to the particle’s position vector does not produce torque.

Torque is applied in various parts of the robot:

1. The robot base:

If you require the robot base to move, we need to turn the robot. The torque at the base depends on the force applied by the motor. Force is a function of mass and acceleration. Hence both speed of the motor and weight of the robot matter in the robot base.

2. The robot arm:

The concept of torque is important in a robot arm. Here torque is generally applied on the shaft of the motor. We can increase the torque in the arm using Gear Systems. The application of gear systems is given in another document.

So next time you design a robot, remember to keep the angle right!!

Robotic Arm - One Degree of Motion

2010-08-08T20:51:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Here's a Robotic Arm with 1 degree of motion.

This model has been created with the BuLo Robotronics Lite robotics kit.