industry spotlight Manufacturing
A Hexrotor robot demonstration.
One such exciting new product is Gocupi, a portable polargraph made from a
small, credit-card-sized computer that was
created at Dallas Makerspace. Gocupi can
robotically draw images on any vertical
surface on which a pen can write. A suction cup-based motor mount allows the
system to deploy anywhere in a matter of
minutes and start drawing immediately.
Led by Brandon Green and Brandon Dunson, both of whom are members of Dallas
Makerspace, the project was recently funded via Kickstarter and owes its success to
the innovation it was born into at Dallas
Makerspace.
Projects like Gocupi show the economic potential of creating in these communal
environments where creativity is fostered
but not limited by barriers to entry or business liability. But it’s not just business or
specific inventions that Makerspaces are
building; the organizations are also building young minds.
Inspiring and educating miniature makers
is something that both Dallas Makerspace
and Tarrant Makers are dedicated to doing.
When talking about the kid-centered classes that Dallas Makerspace offers, Davidson
rambles off a list of projects not found in
many classrooms.
“We are doing DNA extraction from
strawberries, which is hands-on, practical
application of STEM education. We help
them put something together, mix it up,
and see what happens. You have to give
someone the ability to fail and learn,” he says.
Other kid-focused Dallas Makerspace
projects have included building marshmallow shooters, robots and even a vending
machine the group made last year that
EXPLORE
THE OPPORTUNITIES IN BENBROOK
asks science questions and rewards candy
to those who correctly guess the answer.
Kids can even “let it ride” and answer more
questions correctly for a chance to win a
bigger piece of candy. The vending machine is currently on display at the SciTech
Discovery Center in Frisco.
Osman stresses that Tarrant Makers
also includes the arts in STEM, making
it “STEAM.”
“The arts are very import to makers,”
he says. “These places offer a lot of skills
enhancement and general practical experience that you’re not going to see with
people who have a very narrow focus. They
are providing facilities that allow people to
learn very rapidly and the community and
mentorship that makes learning rapidly
possible.”
From air-powered shooters to cardboard
box banjos to eggbots (robots that allow
you to draw on anything round) and even
arduino classes, Tarrant Makers provides an
opportunity for kids to grasp a basic understanding of a concept and get the inspiration and motivation to learn and research
more. That helps grow the next generation
of creators who can help define a new
world in advanced ways.
Creating a world limited not by your age,
your profession, or even your current skill set?
If that’s not a hallmark of Texan ingenuity,
we don’t know what is.
An ideal location adjacent to Fort
Worth and centrally located in
North Texas, Benbrook is part of
one of the nation’s fastest growing
regions. Benbrook offers great
sites and sound infrastructure
essential to growth and success
and is easily accessible by IH–20
and US 377. Benbrook is open for
business, and looking to help you
develop commercial, residential
and industrial properties.
Economic growth and opportunity
awaits you in Benbrook.
FORT WORTH
Contact: Ron Rainey
Benbrook EDC
817.249.6990
Dallas Makerspace robotic project.
Winter/Spring 2015
www.ntc-dfw.org
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