rippowamlabs

We’ve had so many requests for this that we had to schedule another session! In the past, we’ve held our robot camp sessions over several days or weeks. This time, we’ll try something different – we’ll do it all in one day.

This will be a fun-filled day specifically targeted at students 17 and under. Without having any experience in robots or computers, they can walk in that morning and leave with a working autonomous robot that they built and programmed that night – guaranteed!

Go to http://rippowamlabs.org/robot-camp-2016/ for more info.

While you’re waiting in lines at your favorite store, don’t forget the GEEK on your Xmas list. Buy them admission to an upcoming class in robotics, microcontrollers and computer programming.

Click on the link below …

Rippowam Labs Gift Certificate

Some of the cool sights from today …

The Fall is a bittersweet time of year. Riding through the streets with the changing colors of the leaves … It’s almost as if God, himself, took a paint brush and left Fairfield County a brilliant technicolor paradise. But, unfortunately, it also means that we get less sunshine.  And as Diedra from work said, its time to be careful when riding a bike. To this end, I created an LED bike helmet.

Get in touch with me if you’d like to learn how to create your own. The lighting is velcro-ed to the helmet, so you can take it off in the spring! And its really really bright!

Note: This IS NOT  as cool as Ron Morse’s jacket or Mike Norris’s Specialized coat rack!

 

ALL HAIL Ron Morse!!!

Ron has been named Rippowam Labs Maker of the Month for October 2015 for the really cool work he did with his LED suit jacket. I went out on a bike ride with him on Monday night and this thing puts out ALOT of light. With this on, NO ONE will miss seeing him!

Ron’s skills and knowledge has been instrumental in many projects at the labs, including the really cool battery he made with duct tape and tin foil for Lillian’s Piano Bench.

We think he is a stud and he is an asset to our group!!!

Seline and Tamour showed the fruits of their labor …

Reed and Samarth were the latest local kids to build autonomous robots at Rippowam Labs! They were great students, who learned about computer programming, DC motor theory and open source hardware.

Before the Intro to Arduino class on Tuesday,  things got a little crazy. Brian and Bill tried riding our bot through the tables and chairs. The big mystery of the night was this: Where was Jimmy Riccelli? 

I took a break from some serious family business Saturday to help the guys at the NYC Chapter of The Open Orginasation of Lockpickers (TOOOL) at their booth at the NYC Maker Faire. If you’ve never visited their tent before, you really should. Tantric, Night Owl and Click gave these awesome presentations on the inner mechanisms of locks and their inherent flaws. They also left out locks and picks for people to take a crack. It is so cool seeing people pick their first lock. Their eyes light up and they scream.

This group is the real deal and it was a pleasure hanging out with them. I hope we get to see them again real soon.

Oh yeah, there was a giant fire-breathing robot at Maker Faire too.

A group of local knitters invaded the Labs last night. They put away all our soldering irons and electronic doo-dads and started to work in what seemed to be a blinding whir of needles, wool and knuckles. Beth’s group had a wonderful time and they assured they’d be back!  Feel free to join!  Their group welcomes beginners!