fischertechnik Fan Spotlight: future Engineer, Zachery Key

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If you are a regular reader of this page, you’re probably quite accustomed to hearing me talk about all the great ways fischertechnik can be used to explore engineering, robotics and other STEM related fields. You’ve probably also heard me say that the ideal way to use fischertechnik in the classroom is to use the instructions which come with each kit as a springboard for learning about the subject that particular kit addresses (for example, electronics with the Profi E-Tech set), and then pose a challenge to the students, to use what they have learned, along with their creativity, to construct something entirely new that solves that problem. Today I wanted to share a few examples from a student named Zachery Key, who did just that, using his knowledge and creativity to create some useful and functional devices out of fischertechnik. Zachery is a student at Bedford Middle School, in Bedford, VA, where he is currently in the 7th grade. He first encountered fischertechnik at a summer enrichment camp he attended about three years back, and has been a fan ever since. Zachery started with some of the non-motorized sets, but within a year he started getting more heavily into the robotic side of FT.

This example is a hand crank powered generator he created. As you will see in this picture and those that follow, Zachery is using some of the ‘old-school’ red and grey fischertechnik blocks he was able to get his hands on. (Please note that while the colors have changed over the years, the functionality has not, and he will be able to easily expand on what he has by using any of the current fischertechnik parts, as well as the updated and enhanced controllers, sensors and other electronic parts.)

This example is a hand crank powered generator he created. As you will see in this picture and those that follow, Zachery is using some of the ‘old-school’ red and grey fischertechnik blocks he was able to get his hands on. (Please note that while the colors have changed over the years, the functionality has not, and he will be able to easily expand on what he has by using any of the current fischertechnik parts, as well as the updated and enhanced controllers, sensors and other electronic parts.) Next is a robotic arm he created, and following that…

fischertechnik Zach 2

…we have a pair of pictures of a device he created for turning the lights on and off in a room, all based upon a door closing. The remaining two pictures (see below) show some details of his robotic arm from photo #2.

Once again, these are devices that Zachery has created himself, after learning his way around the fischertechnik system. Zachery tells us that he likes fischertechnik because of the wide assortment of parts that can be used for constructing almost any shape or different type of device he could desire. He says using fischertechnik helps him to understand the engineering process better, and is helping him to move toward his future career goal of becoming an engineer.

fischertechnik Zach 3If you have any unique fischertechnik models you’d like to share pictures or videos of with us, or any stories on how fischertechnik is helping you to explore technology, please send them to me at [email protected]. Who knows…maybe a future fischertechnik fan spotlight will be on you!

On that note, until we meet again, happy building!

 Author: Lance Zurek

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