Robotics

Answer to the following questions by adding a comment to my blog:

What is the thing that interest you the most about robotics?



What is the hardest thing about building a robot?



What are other things you would like to do with robotics?

Instructions vs. Imagination

When I was growing up (circa mid 1970's), Legos were my favorite toy. Back then, Lego sets consisted of random bricks of various sizes and shapes and it was up to me to build what I imagined. It was all about discovery and exploring the possibilities. Problem-solving. How to construct what was in your mind.

Today, my 13-year-old son Noah still enjoys a good Lego set, but they have changed dramatically. Now you'll find a box with a beautiful picture of a pirate ship or a Ferrari on the cover. Inside, there are lots of single-use specialty parts. And, unfortunately, detailed instructions that step-by-step lead to a single outcome while simultaneously erasing the possibilities.

Instead of building blocks of right-brain imagination, the sets have become a left-brain exercise of how to follow instructions. Do what you're told exactly. Follow the rules. There's only one right answer. And God forbid, don't make mistakes!

How ironic, considering this trend is the exact opposite of what we need to win in business (and life). In the industrial age and even much of the information age, following instructions was just fine. Get good grades, work hard, do what you're told, don't make waves, and 30 years later you'll retire with a gold watch. Today, that fantasy simple no longer exists ... right along with rotary phones and lead-based paint.

Today, the world has become too complex and changes too fast. There are no more operating manuals for success. Today, winning is about creativity and imagination and exploring the possibilities. You may still get hired based on your resume, but you will advance based on your ability to improvise, adapt, and create.

In this new era of business, a key challenge for you as a leader is to develop the imagination of your teams. Instead of issuing detailed instructions, allow your people the freedom to dream. Establishing a culture where team members can unleash their creativity and explore the possibilities will not only drive better results ... it will create teams that are motivated, happy, and actually having fun instead of being clock-punching drones.

The next time you are tempted to issue a set of instructions, try a different approach. Provide the building blocks and then let your team create their own masterpiece. You may just discover that game-changing innovation is already present. It may just be locked inside a team that needs to be instructed not to just follow the instructions.

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It's time to let your team's imagination come out to play. And I'm happy to lend you my old-school Lego set if it will helps jumpstart the process.

Add a comment to this blog by answering the following questions:

1. Do you feel that you have strong problem solving skills in order to create something without having to follow a set of steps? (Explain your answer)

2. When creating a new project, what more difficult for you?

Finding a solution to the project or creating the solution to the project. (Explain)

3. Explain the different ways in how engineering class will help you develop your problem solving skills.

Inventor .... Is it hard???

Happy Thursday everyone!

Answer the following questions by creating a new comment on this blog:

1. From your perspective.... What is the most difficult thing about inventor?

Do you think is hard to create models on the software? Why?

What is one thing that you would change about the software?


2. How do you think this software will help you in the future?


3. Create the figures that were given to you at the beginning of the class, you will need to place the sofa inside the little doll's house. Hint: Make sure you are creating the sofa at a smaller scaler than the house.

Different applications of Inventor Software

Do now:

Read the following article:

http://www.engr.utexas.edu/features/6541-pengyu-ren

Answer the following questions:

What was the thing that surprised you the most about the article?


Why?



Did you ever imagined that pharmaceutical drugs were first designed on a computer software?

Discovering Inventor

Today:


1. Complete your 5 puzzle pieces and the assembly.

2. Discover a new inventor tool (something the teacher did not teach you).
Where does the tool can be found?
What is the name of the tool?

3. What are the things that you can create with the tool?

Puzzle cube / Inventor software

Today, we will create a digital copy of your Puzzle cube usign inventor software.

Think about the tools that you learned last class and write down all the steps you need in order to create your cube on the software.
You may start like this:
1. Draw my (red) puzzle piece, then extrude it.

2. ...etc.

Comment on this post. Make sure to include your name.

Sexiest Engineers of the Planet

Meet Ms. Robles' engineering class: The sexiest engineers of the planet.