Maker Studio Explores Robotics and its Real-World Applications During Robotics Day

Robotics is a popular theme in the Maker Studio at the Children’s Museum of South Dakota. On Tuesday, April 17, 2018, the Maker Studio will offer an application of real-world robotics when it hosts a Stryker Mako System, a tool that uses robotic technology to assist physicians during orthopedic surgery.

The Stryker Mako System is part of Brookings Health System’s expanding surgical robotic program and enables surgeons to provide a more predictable surgical experience. From 10 am to 3 pm, the robotic arm will be in the Maker Studio for a demonstration complemented by family-friendly robotic programming with paid museum admission.

Students age 5 and up will have the opportunity to work from 3 to 5 pm to create their own robots during a drop-off program with a $5 ($4 members) material fee.

During both events, students will have the opportunity to interact with Maker Studio robotics, such as Dash and Cubelets robotic blocks, at the same time they are able to get up-close-and-personal with real-world robotic technology.

“It’s inspiring for children to see how the concepts they are learning through robotics are applied in real-world scenarios like a hospital,” said Carrie Benson, Director of Education at the Children’s Museum of South Dakota. “This is a great chance for children to take their exploration and inquiry to the next level.”

Brookings Health System is the second hospital in the state of South Dakota to offer robotic-arm assisted total knee, partial knee and total hip replacements with the Mako System.

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The Children’s Museum of South Dakota, located in Brookings, SD, promotes learning for children of all ages and abilities through interactive, informal, hands-on exhibits and demonstrations. The museum has welcomed more than 750,000 guests from around the world who make memories while learning through play. More information is available at prairieplay.org.

The Maker Studio, located at the Children’s Museum of South Dakota, opened in October 2017, offers a place for kids to tinker, invent, think, and create. Activities, such as pottery wheel, string art, screen printing, and circuitry are explored based on each child’s individual interest.