Frank Orlando teaches middle-schoolers about mechanics, software
Published in the Sept. 16-29, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Robert Airoldi
Photo by Robert Airoldi
Frank Orlando, Adrian Falcon, 12; Ethan Hanlon, 13; Calvin Robles, 12; Erik Carrajal, 13; and Christian Sierra, 12, work on their robot.
When Morgan Hill senior Frank Orlando started looking for an opportunity to volunteer his engineering and science talents two years ago, serendipity kicked in. John Horner, president and CEO of the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce, told him Britton Middle School Principal Glen Webb had recently asked him if he knew of anyone to oversee the campus’s robotics club.
Orlando, 75, jumped at the chance to work with teenage boys and girls and inspire them toward technology-oriented careers through the fun of mechanics and software. The retired mechanical engineer for FMC became the adviser of Britton’s Terminatorz Robotics Club, now in its second year. The club is free and seven Britton students meet from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday under Orlando’s mentorship.
The club, a member of the First Lego League organization, focuses on learning by doing and problem solving. The Britton students are now working to build a robot for the 2015 Trash Treks Challenge with the goal of creating automated devices. The students are encouraged to work together as a team to find their own solutions.
The Terminatorz club consists of three equally important components: core values, the project and the robot. Core values emphasizes teamwork and treating each other with respect. The project requires students to research a topic, write a report and present to the report to an outside group. Building the robot to accomplish “missions” lets the students have fun together. The First Lego League furnishes a kit with all the materials needed to build a robot and participate in a local competition.
“Learning is more important than winning,” Orlando emphasizes.
And that, learning comes from trial and error in the classroom, where students discover the difference between accuracy and repeatability, how to write code to program the robot to accomplish its tasks and how to work as a team.
This year’s robotics-centered theme is “waste disposal” and the Britton team will need to maneuver their robot through a series of missions to accomplish certain specific tasks. The robot will be programmed by the students and once they hit the start button, the robot is on its own, using software commands programmed into its microprocessor to open a door, place one item on top of another and move an item 90 degrees.
“At times it gets a bit frustrating because we can see better ways to do things, but we can’t tell the kids what to do,” Orlando said. “But we can make suggestions. Sometimes they listen.”
And the students are eager to learn.
“I want to learn everything there is to know about robotics and software,” said Ethan Hanlon, 13, who is in his second year in the club.
“I want to learn how to make the robots,” said Christian Sierra, 12. “It’s fun using Legos.”
Roger Danielson, 78, came on board last year to help Orlando out as a volunteer with the students. This year the club has a part-time assistant in 7th-grade Britton science teacher Kayla Benton.
“I feel a little more confident this year,” Orlando said, with the additional help.“The kids this year seem to be really focused and dedicated, but I’m still learning. At times there is much chaos and at other times they get things done and they seem to learn from that.”
Orlando said he feels pleased the young people get excited about learning about science and engineering. He focuses their efforts on accomplishing 11 missions during this year’s competition. They’ll do as many missions as possible in 2 ½ minutes during the end-of-the-year competition.
“I like the fact that maybe I can help some of these kids,” he said. “I get a kick out of it when the kids accomplish something and they get excited. The kids are working well as a team, coming together quickly and that’s a good thing. I think it’s going to be a good year for us.”
