MIT Splash was really really really FUN!

Posted by Erin, the RobotGrrl on Sunday, November 18th, 2007

Yay! The MIT Splash was really really really fun. From the sign-up being in real disarray on Oct.31st and Nov. 1st, I was really impressed that everything was really really really well organized and run! They even found my phone, which I lost. (No, I did not lose it on purpose because the iPhone is coming… the Organic Chemistry teacher was oblivious as to what was happening outside the window and I had to sprint with a heavy bag and untied shoe to get into the photo). I did skip his other class, Intro to Genetics since I found out that I’m really really really not interested in that type of stuff.

Hmm… My fav classes were probably Advanced Java, Goal Oriented Machine Learning, AI as Common Sense Problems (or something like that), and How Computers Work : Software (which turned out to be a Q&A class :D). There was one class that involved Linear Algebra & Physics to explain how Google’s news thingy worked… the person teaching it seemed nervous, so it wasn’t that effective. I’m sure it’s a fantastically interesting thing to look into, but what are you going to do afterwards? You can’t go to the moon with that knowledge…

Anyway, the really really really weird part about the trip was that I was always cold! It sounds weird, but it’s like as if my bones were frozen. I was never really warm! And I’m still cold now! :( Brrr…

Posted in: Programming, Projects, Robot, School.

MIT Admissions Info + Tour!

Posted by Erin, the RobotGrrl on Friday, November 16th, 2007

I have arrived at MIT for a 4 day adventure! I have been looking forward to this since September-ish, and it is SUPER to be here! The drive was okay… kinda. We were driving INTO the snow storm. I slept most of the way though, with my Spongebob blankie, listening to my iPod When we arrived at Boston, we realized it is a VERY busy and bustling city. Did you know- the crosswalk makes a ‘tweeting’ noise when you are supposed to walk. It kinda gets annoying. We got really lost… but we made it to the Admissions Info Session about 15 minutes late. The most discouraging fact I learned during that session is that you need to take 8 Humanity courses. Moreover, they only select 1,000 people out of 10,000- and they DO look at your marks.

The tour was extremely freezing- but it was nice to see all the buildings around Killain’s Court before tomorrow’s ESP Splash Program. My fav part- the CSAIL building! However, there is a proper name for it, but I know it as CSAIL. (CSAIL - Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab). At the end of the tour, we went to The COOP, where I got 3 teddy bears with MIT sweaters on them (1 magnetic one- for my locker, 1 keychain one- for my bag, and 1 stuffie one- to keep me motivated when I go back home). Also got a pink MIT waterbottle (since I forgot mine at home -.-”), tiny notepad & pen, NEW laptop bag (it’s chic!), and last but not least in love- the MIT sweater. This was great- except for one thing. How do we get back to the hotel? Thank goodness for OnStar, otherwise we really would have been lost! The Turn-by-turn direction system is amazing
So tomorrow will be another exciting day! MIT Spash here I come!!

PS: Regarding the lack of posts- my Vienna messed up all of the posts I clicked, erasing them all. I’m changing my method now- shift + command + M! This will mark the article, and hopefully not mess up. Furthermore, I’ve been busy with homework!
And so I leave you with pics!

Funky Donut! With Patriotic colours!

iPod ad! w00t!

Athletics Buidling at MIT

Swimming Pool (in the Athletics Building at MIT)

WELCOME TO MASSACHVESTS INSTITVE OF TECHNOLOGY! (What is up with the pointy u’s that resemble v’s?!?!?!)

Apparently this is where Newton’s Apple fell…

It’s the dome at MIT!!!

Funky thingy!

GREEN building at MIT

CSAIL!

CSAIL!

CSAIL!

CSAIL!

omg CSAIL!

The lights are sooo intense in here! Phew! And do you think there is enough blackboard space?

NANOTECH!!

Lost - Found (LOL)

92% More Meditation!

The light!

Walking away from MIT to the Student Centre

Hi!

Teddies + Waterbottle = FUN!

The button on my new bag!

More tomorrow!

Posted in: Projects, Robot, School.

Arduino LED Testing

Posted by Erin, the RobotGrrl on Saturday, November 3rd, 2007

I received my Arduino starter kit from ladyada.com not too long ago - Oct. 30th to be exact - It’s AWESOME! I really think this will work well. Check out the pics and video below!

This is the Arduino Deicemilia board - the main thing.

The Arduino hooked up with a servo - I was testing it. Works well!

This is the protosheild. It sheilds the Arduino for you, this way nothing should happen to it! It is also easier to create circuits with. I spent an hour or so today soldering it all together (I learned how to solder, YAY!)

And now for the test video!

Hope you like!
As for the programming of the project, it is not going too well. I will have to devise a new plan ASAP. I believe I have to submit the project near the end of December… YIKES! However, I am sure I will get it done!

I have registered for MIT ESP’s Splash 2007, mainly in Computer Science classes. It’s going to be the best weekend EVERR! I really can’t wait. Hopefully they can help out once I tell them about the project.

Adios amigos!

Posted in: Programming, Projects, Robot.