2025 Utah Technology and Engineering Summer Conference

 Discuss path forward to meet industry demands.

This presentation with Bridgerland Technical College is a hands-on experience with industrial automation systems that use a robot arm. We will discuss how to build automation boards using affordable components such as VEX Robotics. Participants will have the opportunity to operate an automation board and receive instruction on programming a robot arm with an automated system controlled by a PLC.

Building on the “Affordable Automation Boards” presentation, we will explore how Ladder Logic Programming is used in automation. Participants will be introduced to the programming structure of Ladder Logic and how it controls an automated process. Like the “Affordable Automation Boards” the presentation is hands-on.

One of my favorite activities I do with my students is tank wars - I provide them with an RC vehicle and then they automate a catapult using a microbit, servo motors, and other basic electronic components.  We have several challenges we complete including a distance and accuracy contest and a full-on tank war.  I will bring all the supplies and teach the teachers how I do this in my class; including the needed content related to microbits, servo motors, catapults, etc.