Lydia D’Amato’s advanced computer students wrapped up work last week on their projects to design, program and construct a mini-golf hole, then headed down to the library to test their creations. 

“It had to have obstacles leading up to the hole and something that would animate to block and unblock the hole,” said D’Amato. “They also had to create a response when the ball made it into the hole.”

For example, one of D’Amato’s students created a space-themed hole, adorned with planets and the International Space Station. A rocket ship moved up and down to block and unblock the hole. There were lights on the box and also some of the planets on the box were spinning. When the ball went in, an alien popped up from behind the box. 

“To create the project, students used a Hummingbird Robotics kit that has a circuit board that they connected the lights and motors to,” D’Amato explained. “They then had to program the motors to move and also program the sensor to detect the ball and respond when a player hit the ball into the hole.”

Photos courtesy of Suzanne Freeman