The Springboro Robotics FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge team (Grades 3 - 6), known as “The Winners,” recently had the opportunity to explore a behind-the-scenes tour of the Cox Media Group’s Ohio Media Center, which includes WHIO-TV Channel 7, WHIO Radio, K99.1FM, and more.
This year's Robotics’ project focused on harnessing technology and the arts to enhance participation in one's passions. The team investigated the impact of disabilities on youth sports involvement, with a specific emphasis on American Football. Drawing inspiration from professional blind soccer leagues and a color-blind artist who used a camera to translate colors into sounds, enabling him to "hear" the colors, the team developed a unique concept.
Their innovative idea involves the integration of cameras and sensors for visually impaired youth players, allowing them to perceive the location/direction of the ball and other players. The team has also incorporated a helmet with a proximity sensor around to distinguish team players, bone conduction headphones for communication, and special proximity sensors integrated into gloves, enabling players to detect the ball's direction, among other functionalities.
During their visit, the team's primary objective was to gather feedback on their research. The students engaged with NFL experts, WHIO Radio on-air personalities, and The Orange Zone talk show hosts Carlos “Big C” Holmes and Parker Testa. “The Winners” were geared up to present their innovation project to a panel of judges.
Click Here to View More Photos
Springboro Robotics was established in 2006 as an extracurricular program for Springboro students. Springboro Robotics has embraced the FIRST® family of programs to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in exciting mentor-based projects that build science, engineering, and technology skills.