Robotics
The South Dakota Mines
Robotics team is a student organization dedicated to the educational benefits
of the students involved in the field of robotics. This includes applying
knowledge in mechatronics, electrical circuits, and programming; thus being beneficial
to the majors of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer
Science, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Mathematics. Even
though these majors make up the majority of our team, we accept anyone from any
program of study!
We are highly involved
with the community in many different ways. First, we participate in various
outreach events for K-12 students, including everything from individual
elementary school visits to participating in the annual South Dakota Mines
E-Week each spring. Additionally, we participate in various street festivals in
the fall such as the Main Street Square Hardrocker Night as well as the annual
Rapid City Pumpkin Festival. We compete in Annual competitions; historically we
participated in the IEEE Robotics Competition, but in recent years have also
engaged in the ASME Student Design Competition and the National Robotics
Challenge. Fundraising is also a large part of our community involvement by
setting up occasional food fundraisers as well as direct sponsorship from
companies.
The Robotics team is
dedicated to the use of hands-on learning and the development of a variety of
practical skills. Participation in the Robotics team gives ample opportunity to
develop certain soft skills like working with a team of people, developing
effective communication skills, and learning to compromise and combine the best
of ideas. We also strive to encourage psychological safety within our group; we
want our team to be a safe, supportive environment open to new ideas and
widespread discussion. The skills that our team members gain through this
process and the opportunity we provide our students to apply their knowledge in
prestigious ways contributes to a more well rounded education.
The Robotics team
relies heavily on the application of theoretical knowledge with mechatronics
being one of the most integral parts of our processes. The applications of
mechatronics include work with sensor guided systems, which may guide a robot's
path and implement certain key functions. Another large aspect of this team’s
work is mechanical dynamics: framework design (building a frame useful for
certain hardware integrations), motor design (effectively setting gear ratios,
torque, power, angular velocity, etc.), and hardware integration (effectively
placing doors, wheels, catapults, flippers, legs, etc.).
Another key field of
knowledge that we work with heavily is electrical circuits. We design the
circuits to integrate with and control the mechanical components of the robots.
All participants are given the opportunity to acquire knowledge of
circuit-board creation and the design software used to make the process
plausible at the level of our competition.
And finally, we work
with programming. We primarily work with Arduinos and program them using the
Arduino IDE. But for more complicated projects we implement the Robot Operating
System (ROS). We also use OpenCV to add computer vision for our bots to allow
them to navigate and avoid obstacles autonomously.
The South Dakota Mines
Robotics team is a vital part of campus education and entirely consistent with
what CAMP and South Dakota Mines stands for. Its regional accomplishments speak
for itself - the result of the combined efforts of its sponsor’s funds and its
student’s minds. But the most invaluable thing of all is the unmistakable
experience and education that its members walk away with - stepping into the
world as an active and constructive participant to its good; there is no
greater idea than this for an institution of higher learning.
Student Org Website | Competition Website (NRC) | Competition Website (ASME)