Typing "moveForward, turnLeft (.25, .5)" Jesse Stromwick '09 commanded Om the robot to run into my foot as I opened the door to the Ferry Building. I thought I was going for the regular everyday interview of a student but instead I ended up talking to a robot. Jesse introduced me to Om after the robot ran over my foot and then Om introduced himself by saying, "what's up gangsta?"
Om is a scribbler robot originally designed to get students interested in computer science. Instead of a textbook, students buy a cute, endearing, lovable blue box with wheels that is a robot so that computer science becomes tangible instead of abstract words on a computer screen. Students can see their progress as they program the robots "brain" and tell it to move forward and turn around if it runs into a wall.
Jesse's goal is to see how advanced he can evolve Om's brain to be. Jesse is trying to make Professor Alistair Campbell's snarpy (a series of smaller programs built so they can operate as a unit) compatible with the original programs of the scribbler robot. Using Myro (My Robot), Python, and SNePS (The Semantic Network Processing System) Jesse has already made Om's brain more advanced. SNePS is the tool that allows Jesse to program the brain and decides what Om will do, while Myro makes the action that was decided on happen. Om has a special addition, the FLUKE, which can be added to the basic robot bought in the store. The FLUKE has three infrared sensors, a light sensor, and a camera. It basically acts as Om's eyes and ears, and then Jesse helps process the sights as he builds the brain. As we talked, Om ran into a wall, turned around and drew a triangle and a pentagon. Jesse's favorite part of his job is the hands-on nature of the robot and of course, Om himself.
When Jesse isn't busy playing with his new pal Om this summer, he enjoys playing pickup soccer, training for the Boilermaker and relaxing. I really recommend that anyone on campus should go meet Jesse and then his little robot friend, Om…even if he does occasionally bump into you.
-- by Emma Domby '11
Om is a scribbler robot originally designed to get students interested in computer science. Instead of a textbook, students buy a cute, endearing, lovable blue box with wheels that is a robot so that computer science becomes tangible instead of abstract words on a computer screen. Students can see their progress as they program the robots "brain" and tell it to move forward and turn around if it runs into a wall.
Jesse's goal is to see how advanced he can evolve Om's brain to be. Jesse is trying to make Professor Alistair Campbell's snarpy (a series of smaller programs built so they can operate as a unit) compatible with the original programs of the scribbler robot. Using Myro (My Robot), Python, and SNePS (The Semantic Network Processing System) Jesse has already made Om's brain more advanced. SNePS is the tool that allows Jesse to program the brain and decides what Om will do, while Myro makes the action that was decided on happen. Om has a special addition, the FLUKE, which can be added to the basic robot bought in the store. The FLUKE has three infrared sensors, a light sensor, and a camera. It basically acts as Om's eyes and ears, and then Jesse helps process the sights as he builds the brain. As we talked, Om ran into a wall, turned around and drew a triangle and a pentagon. Jesse's favorite part of his job is the hands-on nature of the robot and of course, Om himself.
When Jesse isn't busy playing with his new pal Om this summer, he enjoys playing pickup soccer, training for the Boilermaker and relaxing. I really recommend that anyone on campus should go meet Jesse and then his little robot friend, Om…even if he does occasionally bump into you.
-- by Emma Domby '11
