Exhibition Day was a bustling event where students showcased their inventions, captivating the audience. The Ascension interns highlighted their creations, reflecting on their learning journey. We express gratitude to the Santa Fe physics department for their support, enhancing student experiences to a professional level. For updates, visit our blog and subscribe.
Category Archives: Bug Machines
Bug Machines Day 9: Refinement, Storytelling & Exhibition Prep
On the final day of preparation for their exhibition, students are refining their presentations and practicing their talks. They have transformed theoretical ideas into remarkable projects within a week. The team’s hard work and creativity have led to impressive results, showcasing their skills and dedication to the community.
Bug Machines Day 8: User Testing, Iteration & Functional Convergence
The team is extensively user-testing and refining their bug-inspired machines, utilizing various electronics and mechanics. They are gearing up for an exhibit, showcasing prototypes like a morphing scorpion. Feedback from other groups has been valuable, leading to a fourth iteration that aims to showcase both functionality and design.
Bug Machines Day 7: From Scaffolds to Independent Systems
This post is part of Bug Machines, a hands-on engineering studio where learners design, build, wire, code, and iterate on insect-inspired machines. The experience blends design thinking, systems engineering, creative problem-solving, and maker confidence—all through real tools and real constraints. Bug Machines Studio — Day 7 of 10— 🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞◻◻◻← Day 6 · Today: Control &Continue reading “Bug Machines Day 7: From Scaffolds to Independent Systems”
Bug Machines Day 6: Systems Integration, Iteration & Debugging
This post is part of Bug Machines, a hands-on engineering studio where learners design, build, wire, code, and iterate on insect-inspired machines. The experience blends design thinking, systems engineering, creative problem-solving, and maker confidence—all through real tools and real constraints. Bug Machines Studio — Day 6 of 10— 🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞◻◻◻◻← Day 5 · Today: Systems IntegrationContinue reading “Bug Machines Day 6: Systems Integration, Iteration & Debugging”
Bug Machines Day 5: Mechatronics, Motion & Risk-Free Iteration
On Day 5 of the project, students engaged in ultra-rapid prototyping, experimenting with electronic components and mechanics. This hands-on approach fostered spatial reasoning and basic CAD skills. As teams advanced their robotic claw designs, they also learned advanced programming in C and C++. The experience emphasized practical application and risk-taking in learning.
Bug Machines Day 4: Rapid Prototyping, Materials & Making Ideas Physical
Students engaged in research and teamwork, transforming their ideas into reality by modeling. They interviewed each other, sketched concepts, and learned about fasteners while assembling 3D printed robotic claw parts. After a presentation on ultra-rapid prototyping, they constructed initial 3D models of their bug machine designs using various materials.
Bug Machines Day 3: Circuits, Coding & Curiosity
Today, we introduced circuits with a presentation on creating a traffic light using Tinkercad and Scratch coding. Local entomologist Dr. Tom Dykstra shared his expertise on insect olfaction and brought hundreds of hissing cockroaches for students to explore. Students engaged in idea generation, forming teams around their favorite “How might we…” statements.
Bug Machines Day 2: Problem Framing, Constraints & CAD Modeling
This post describes the second day of the Bug Machines engineering studio, where learners engage in designing insect-inspired machines. Key activities include deepening CAD skills, exploring local insects, and learning about constraints in additive manufacturing. Students combine biological study with design to lay groundwork for future system-building in engineering.
Bug Machines Begin
Day 1 of Bug Machines was a success, exciting parents and students alike. The summer studio focused on bug-related activities and fundamental CAD skills. Ascension’s student interns, with newfound coding abilities, created DIY tutorials and activities for beginners in programming, emphasizing practical robotics through virtual circuits and microcontrollers.