CLASS ACT Home-schooled robot makers on cutting edge + Team puts Legos to work in designing «prosthetic arms By ANDREA ScHORLLKOFE Journal Staff Writer group of Albuquerque hhome-schooled students il compete at an ternational Logo competition in St.Louis after they designed prosthotic arms from Legos using a computer for sensory feedback. "The Albuquerque Homeschool Engineering and Robotics Team. (AHERT) Lego robot beat 24 others during three 2%-ninute ‘matches, winning high score ‘f 295, Italso won the overall ‘Champion's Award for its design ‘and performance and for its ‘Tuesday, April 5, 2011 JOURNAL Albuquerque Journal “Schools” & “Business” section embodiment of FIRST Les ‘League core values. “They've been real excited,” coach Manny Barrera said, They've been working on it for 2% yearsasa team.” FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and ‘Technology) Lego League is a robot program for youths ages 9t0 11 that focuses on team-building, problem-solving, creativity and analytical thinking to solve ‘engineering problems. This year, feams were asked to explore biomedical engineering for ways torrepalr injuries, overcome genetic predispositions and maximize the body’s potential "The AHERT Ravens spent more than 1,300 hours working with rofessionals on their idea to hel e "i fonel> ‘Barrera, 3 Nathan Harris, Roman Velazquez, Greyson Barr Harts and Wes Harts. SecROBOT or PAGE BS « rom PAGE B1 prosthotic arms move and provide sensory feedback ‘through a computer interface anda sensory patch system. The tearm says its solution vould provide a nonsurgical way to attach ‘nd use prosthetic arms, using brainwave headset {2 national robot program. Front row: Molly Thomas, Gavin Barrera iso known as the team mascot. Back row: William Thomas, to control the functions. ‘The youths are trying to raise more than $1,500 each for travel and participation costs, to atiend the national competition with 84 other teams from around the ‘world. The team still needs about $4,000 more before the April 27-30 competition, For more information, visit ‘The Albuquerque Homeschool Engineering and Robotics Team Is headed to Oscar Enrique Velazquez, Zach Robot team in international contest www AHERTravens info or call Barrera at 505-314-3246, aor note: We want to vecognze Suggestions to Elon Mar at ‘emarks@abajoural.com,