Looking for Robotics Clubs

[dayhkr]

I am posting to see if I can find a robotics club or at least people close to my town that are interested in robotics.  I have been searching and I am finding that the clubs are either hard to find or don't exist at all.  I have found a few clubs but driving a 100 mile is not an option anyone know of clubs around the Indiana area specifically Wayne county area.  It would be nice to be able to kick around some ideas exchange parts with a group but I really haven't found any clubs here.  I have even checked the local colleges with no success it is hard to believe that IUE, Purdue technology and Ivytech don't have anyone interested in robotics. 

[SmAsH]

True, robotics clubs are hard to find.
But maybe there are people near you in your position, looking for one.
Have you considered starting one? Maybe just a few people but you can exchange ideas, parts etc...
Sometimes you have to be the one to kickstart these things.

[dellagd]

you may think it is a good or a bad idea, but what smash said is basically the best option.

or you could move 

IDEA! This would be sooooo cool
Make a website where anyone with a webcam could join the club, like they would call you for the password, then it would be a big video chatroom robotics club. Anyone like?

[dayhkr]

Yeah I have thought about starting one I am just not to sure anyone in this little town is interested I did post a call for interested parties on my site and I will hit up a few other places.  I like the idea of the video club site I might have to look into that one if I get the fiber connection to my house like I want to I could probably even host it on my Asterisk server.  I guess in the long run the moving idea might end up being an option hehe until then I will use this site as much as I can.

[SmAsH]

Well, think about places people interested in robotics go, hobby shops, electronics stores etc...
And put up flyers around with your contact info... It's a long shot but meh...

[Asellith]

Thats what I did. I got involved in another group at a local hobby store. Showed off some of my robotics stuff while looking for parts one day. Then the owner mentioned wanting to get into carrying some parts. So i mentioned a possible club. We are going to work out the details when my robot gets done. So talk to some local business owners. If you get them on board you have a meeting place and a way to promote easily.

[dayhkr]

Hmm some very good ideas we do actually have one hobby shop maybe that would be a good route to go hopefully I can get some attention by doing what was mentioned and post some information or something. 

[Joker94]

if you do try and have some thing to show them as i think they will be more interested and intreged by the idea, a visual and physical experience ultimently more interesting. If not it would ne a mental experience and not as interesting.

Just as Asellith mentioned.

If you don't, have some plans typed up with you aim and goal so that they know that you are really interested and want tto get something going.

[Asellith]

Also would be a good idea to have the first meeting rely completely on you talking. That is what I am planning. I am going to finish my robot and introduce them to the AXON and OSCAR in one talk. Also nice to have something to inspire/showoff.  My hope is to pick up some experienced guys who can help get things going. I'm also going to track down the guy from the local university that does their robotics stuff. Check out high schools as well. I noticed we have a BEST club in my town. That would be a good place to recruit some people from. Check for FIRST clubs as well. Most likely if you find some younger kids the parents are into robotics as well or could be.

[Joker94]

another good point by Asellith, make sure you have something to talk about.

[SmAsH]

Well, have everything prepared, have lessons planned out.
Maybe one night have a lesson on microcontrollers, have a list of specific points you want to cover, remember to get the students involved, ask them questions, let them do something...
Maybe one night, have a build night, a small fee and everybody gets shown how to construct a robot!
Be creative!

[Joker94]

build nights are always a hit.( and that way you'll see the people that really want to be there and not just because they think it sounds cool).

another way to see if the people who want to be there and learn is have theory nights set as compolsary so people don't just turn up at build nights.

and i don't mean theory as in just copying stuff out about MCU's but talks and demos.

that is my thinking any way.

[kpmcgurk]

I know that Indiana has a lot of busy FIRST robotics teams, I am unaware of your specific area, but it would be worth a shot to look into! give 'er a try, if you don't get exactly what you are looking for, it will at least get you with some people that are interested in the same kinds of things!

[dayhkr]

The good news is I have a robot under construction so I have something tangible to bring to the table unfortunately talking to a group of people isn't always my strong point but I am sure I can get over that part of it.  I can talk a bunch about what I am doing and the parts I am working on hopefully if it doesn't put people to sleep it will spark their conversation.  Maybe I need to think about getting a job in this field and surround myself with like minded individuals. I will try some of the suggestions you have come up with and see what comes about thanks again everyone for the suggestion.

[Rick Brooks]

We did have a club for a few years in Fort Wayne, but members lost interest.  Derek Cowburn tried to get a group going in Fishers, but that only lasted a few meetings.

We do have a popular contest every February, perhaps you could attend or compete. http://www.sciencecentral.org/neirg.htm

If you do get something started, I could attend and demo a variety of robots (mostly sumo with a few line followers and a robomagellan) just to get things going.

Keep in touch.

        Rick Brooks

[dayhkr]

Great I will mark my calendar and hopefully I will have a moving robot by that time if not it will be great to talk to people and get ideas.  If I can get some people together I will let you know the more robots to demo the better for sparking peoples attention.