Fort Wayne Robot Club Kickoff Meeting

A free monthly meetup for robotics enthusiasts of all skill levels to learn, build, collaborate, compete, and share projects. Calling all builders, programmers, engineers, students, makers, and curious minds! Join us for the first Fort Wayne Robot Club meeting at Electric Works in The Forum. The club is free to attend, and no paid membership is required. We welcome everyone from complete beginners to experienced robotics professionals. Whether you’re interested in Arduino, Raspberry Pi, ROS or ROS 2, Python, C++, electronics, embedded systems, sensors, motors, computer vision, artificial intelligence, machine learning, CAD, 3D printing, drones, autonomous systems, or robot design, you’ll find people who are excited to learn and build alongside you. Meetings will be held on the second Sunday of each month from 1:00–3:00 p.m. Each session will include introductions, a 40-minute featured presentation, suggestions for future topics, and 40 minutes of social time and collaborative work. By the end of every meeting, we’ll identify the presenter and topic for the following month. Anyone can volunteer to present, demonstrate a project, or lead a discussion. If no one volunteers, the organizer will find a speaker or topic for the next session. Bring a robot, circuit, project, idea, or work in progress. You can get help from others, troubleshoot a problem, share your knowledge, find collaborators, or simply come to learn. You do not need to bring a project to participate. The club will also have an ongoing team project. Participants will have the option to purchase the selected robotics kit and receive help from others as they build, program, and experiment with it. Purchasing a kit is completely optional and is not required to attend meetings. As the club grows, we plan to: • Participate in local and national robotics competitions and championships • Mentor local school robotics teams • Develop collaborative robot projects • Host technical presentations and demonstrations • Help beginners get started with robotics and programming • Connect robotics enthusiasts, engineers, makers, educators, and students throughout the Fort Wayne area We’ll try to provide snacks and will have at least coffee available. Parking: Parking is available in the surface lot or parking garage. Contact the organizer if you need additional parking assistance. Come meet some of the area’s bright and curious minds, share what you know, and help build Fort Wayne’s robotics community! Agenda 1:00–1:15 p.m. | Welcome and introductions Meet the organizer and other attendees. Share your interests, experience, and current projects if you’d like. 1:15–1:55 p.m. | Featured presentation A 40-minute presentation, demonstration, workshop, or technical discussion about a robotics-related topic. 1:55–2:10 p.m. | Future topics and club planning Suggest topics, volunteer to present, discuss competitions and mentoring opportunities, and select the presenter and subject for the next meeting. 2:10–2:50 p.m. | Social time and coworking Bring out your projects, ask questions, troubleshoot problems, collaborate, and get to know other attendees. 2:50–3:00 p.m. | Wrap-up Confirm the next meeting’s presentation and topic, share announcements, and identify next steps for the ongoing team project. Robotics, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, ROS, ROS 2, Python, C++, Electronics, Embedded Systems, Microcontrollers, Sensors, Motors, Computer Vision, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, CAD, 3D Printing, Drones, Autonomous Robots, Robot Operating System, Makers, STEM, Engineering, Programming, Fort Wayne