The Project

Our project focuses on the idea of teamwork and communication in the field of autonomous robotics. We will build two robots which will search for infrared beacons placed around a room. In the process, they will create a map of the area and share their findings wirelessly. The robots will have to approach and turn off each beacon in the correct order according to priority. The beacons will each have unique signatures which will correspond to their priority. The robots will use their shared information to calculate the most efficient path/method of accomplishing their task.

Brock Mentorship

The Brock University Science Mentorship Program was initiated by Dr. Joseph F. Engemann (Faculty of Education) in 1994. This program offers senior high school science students, who are highly interested in science, demonstrate high academic precocity, and are capable of working independently, with an opportunity to pursue a real-life scientific investigation under the supervision of a member of the Faculty of Mathematics and Science at Brock University. Each year, schools submit a list of students who they think would benefit from the program. These students are then matched with Mentors from the disciplines of Biology, Health Science, Physical Education, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, Psychology, and Computer Science. This labour intensive commitment by the faculty is really what makes the program so effective.

Mentorships take place during the first semester of the secondary school year. Students are matched with Mentors who are conducting research in areas of potential student interest. The primary aim of this program, therefore, is to encourage bright students to consider the pursuit of a career in science through close contact with a professional scientist as a Mentor.

Recruitment for the program is facilitated by Science and Co-operative Education Teachers, within each school. They are responsible for nominating potential student candidates and providing ongoing communication with students and their Mentors. These teachers periodically meet with the Mentor and maintain a continual dialogue with the student.