CORNWALL, Ontario – The Cornwall Raging Robots Robotics Club had a chance to meet with Canadian Astronaut Robert Thirsk at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa on Sunday, Oct. 21.
The members of the Cornwall Raging Robots Robotics Club had a chance to ask Dr. Thirsk some questions for the First Lego League Challenge Into Orbit in December, in which the Cornwall Robotics Club is participating.
FIRST Lego League (FLL) is an organization dedicated to introducing children to science and technology in a competitive setting.
The annual robotics mission challenges participants to solve a “tricky” mission with the help of a robot.
“The FLL Teams take the opportunity to experience all steps of a real product development process: solving a problem under time pressure with insufficient resources and unknown competitors,” reads a press release from FLL. “FLL is a small microcosmos of real business life in all its respects.”
This year’s theme is Into Orbit, hence the Cornwall Raging Robots Robotics Club seeking the advice of Dr. Thirsk.
“The young engineers are building a robot suit that will virtually bring the astronauts home so they don’t feel isolated in space,” said Martin Massé, Cornwall Robotics Club organizer. “They all received a signed picture of Astronaut Robert Thirsk and got their Raging Robots t-shirt signed.”
Massé said that the club was appreciative of the time Dr. Thirsk afforded them.
“The kids would like to thank Astronaut Robert for his time and expertise,” Massé said. “Another thank you to The Care Center (old General Hospital) for giving the kids a place to meet and work together and Hec’s Key shop for helping us.”
