Hands-on activities and lots of great conversations

Amid perfect late-summer weather, everything in downtown Ravensburg on September 12 and 13 revolved around play. And RWU was there, too: At the annual “Ravensburg Plays” event, which takes place at the end of summer break, the “MINT Discovery” project organized hands-on activities centered on robotics and technology.

At the university’s booth, visitors spent both days building, tinkering, programming, and, of course, playing. The mBot2 robots, in particular, generated a lot of excitement. Visitors of all ages built and programmed the robots and then tested them on the race track. Even the youngest children, who couldn’t build the robots themselves yet, had fun with the moving robots and watched how the pre-programmed mBots reacted to obstacles that suddenly appeared.

The tabletop pinball machine, created as part of a student project, provided fun and a touch of nostalgia: while some parents were reminded of their youth, the children were delighted by the built-in candy dispenser, which handed out a small reward after five hits. The robotic gripper arm, with its sensitive sensors, also amazed visitors of all ages.

“It was wonderful to see how naturally all generations came together at the RWU booth.”

In addition to the great interest in the hands-on activities, many conversations took place at the RWU booth with children, parents, interested adults, and former students. Topics included RWU’s programs for high school students and questions about degree programs focused on robotics, programming, and the development of technical systems. Several alumni also visited the RWU booth in downtown Ravensburg with their families and reminisced about their own college days.

“It was wonderful to see how naturally all generations came together at our booth. Children built, programmed, and experimented; parents cheered them on; and former students reminisced,” says Veronika Weber-Schopp, project manager for MINT Discovery. “This mix of hands-on activities, fun, and personal interaction brought the RWU to life for many people. Many staff members, student assistants, and high school students supported the MINT Discovery team to create this wonderful atmosphere at the RWU booth.”

Click here for the photo gallery “Ravensburg Plays”.