A Phoenix company is trying to make robotics more accessible — and affordable — to students.
EcoRobotik was founded by Gabriela Gabaldón, a former teacher.
The program includes classes, camps and competitions, and tries to keep costs down and focus on sustainability.
Conversation highlights
What got you started on robotics?
GABRIELA GABALDÓN: Well, the thing is that I was a teacher here as I mentioned, and then I love robotics. You know, I've been a teacher in all different sciences. But I saw that there was a problem in which they are amazing out there robotics companies that have opportunities, however, they are very expensive. Me as an immigrant thinking, about there are no everywhere can purchase these kind of kits. And then my thought was, how can we make it more affordable? And that was the first thought, the second thought is sustainability piece. It should be something that every lesson should have. Just a little bit of what the purpose of robotics, because I know it was out there thinking like, oh technology and sustainable, should not be together. No, no, no, it actually should be together in order to be more sustainable.
And then, so that is basically the bottom line. I never thought like 20 years ago thinking, oh, I'm gonna start entrepreneurship. I did study environmental chemistry. I studied engineering. I love teaching those three things, but there was no solution out there. I said, "You know what ... who likes this idea? who joins me into this idea? And so a group of friends, you know, joined together to start EcoRobotik.
How do you try to make robotics more affordable? How do you try to get more kids to be able to do this, who don't have the means to buy an expensive kit?
GABALDÓN: Well, so there are different kits out there, there are main companies for the people that knows about robotics competitions that are amazing. Don't get me wrong. However, they are super expensive. They are big robots ... very high, high tech, which is great. However, there are other things that not necessarily has to be purchased from us. So there are things talking about sustainability, so you can use some piece and, oh I have this leftover radio that we never use. So we can use some parts of that to create and build your robots. That makes it more affordable. Thinking about, I can repurpose some materials to build your robot.
Is there something in some way that's maybe more educational if you don't just get the kit with all the pieces — where you kind of have to figure out: What am I going to use, and how am I going to attach it? That kind of thing.
GABALDÓN: Yeah, the problem solving. So totally one of the things sometimes with our phones, the kids cellphone being always just everything is given to you. So I want something just go give it to me. However, now that creative mind. OK. Now I don't have the pieces in my house. So now its force them to actually research, do a little research. ... So that is basically that creative thinking is so important, that is wwhat we encourage — a part of the lesson, actually.
