Madison, WI (February 1, 2005) - One hundred fifty students at Sherman Middle School of Madison, WI will begin a special robotics mini-course beginning on February 14th. The mini-course will introduce students to robotics technology and terminology. It will also provide the students with critical hands-on experience as they build their own robots.

Students will initially be introduced to the engineering aspects of robotics as they discuss how the size and makeup of a robot are defined by its purpose. They will learn about and discuss different types of robots in industry and society.

Each student will then get hands on experience as they experiment with robot sensors, end effectors, motors and servos, gears, and electronic circuits. Although students will be called upon to apply some of their existing science knowledge, much of the material will be new territory.

As the week-long course concludes, students will assemble their own line-following robots. This type of robot uses sensors and logic to detect and follow a line on the ground. The students will then test their creations on a course laid out in the classroom.

Robot Objects, a local robotics company based in DeForest, WI, is assisting the school and teacher <name removed for privacy reasons> to develop the robot kits as well as the work stations for the class experiments. Through a special arrangement, the school only reimburses Robot Objects for the wholesale cost of the materials used. Robot Objects is donating the time, personnel, and other resources needed to design, create, and package the kits, work stations, training aids, and documentation.

Separate classes of sixth, seventh, and eighth graders will meet for one hundred minutes each day for one week beginning February 14th. Another set of classes for each grade will meet the following week.