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Made in Fort Worth: Flatline Robotics
Education doesn’t always take place in schools. Following your passions and doing deep dives into subjects that interest you can spark lifelong learning. Flatline Robotics describes itself as a “hands-on STEM workshop offering robotics and 3D-printing classes for curious makers of all ages.” Founder Josh Masseo wanted to create a space where people learn more than coding. They build real robots using real parts that can be taken apart and reconfigured. Josh recently took the time to sit down and answer Madeworthy’s questions.
Madeworthy: What inspired you to start Flatline Robotics?
Josh Masseo: In 2021, I had the opportunity to join the Battle Bots team, DragonSlayer, and I witnessed how the sport involved whole families working together on a technical challenge. This inspired me to start my own combat robotics business aimed at getting local kids more involved with STEM. During our Robot Rumble events over the years, we have continually received inquiries from parents about robotics classes and camps – so we created our own! We still offer private Robot Rumble events, but now we have a brick-and-mortar workshop/classroom and are hosting STEM workshops for ages 9 through 99.
MW: Why do you think robotics is becoming such an important part of education today?
JM: Robot technology is becoming mainstream; like it or not, the “clankers” are now a part of our daily lives. As such, technology is shifting the labor market – not only in replacing human labor [in traditional jobs], but also in creating a need for the manufacturing, sale, and repair of the robots. A well-rounded education now needs to include a basic understanding of robotics.
MW: Many people assume robotics courses are only for future engineers. What would you say to them?
JM: [Robots are part of the] future for all people. The creation, distribution, and maintenance of these machines will require skills across many disciplines. So, even if you are a sales professional or a designer, it would behoove you to be familiar with the field.
MW: What do students gain from building a robot that they can’t get from reading a textbook?
JM: Experiential learning builds confidence (and manual dexterity!) as you get to actually build the thing with your own two hands and have the experience of troubleshooting when things inevitably go wrong. A textbook can teach you the way things are supposed to go, but only by actually building it can you truly learn the ins and outs of how things physically come together. Kinesthetic learning has well-documented benefits for brain development, and in our classes, you also have an experienced in-person guide to help you through the process.
MW: Failure is part of engineering, as it is a part of all science. How do you help students embrace mistakes?
JM: By making mistakes ourselves! Going back to the benefits of hands-on learning we discussed earlier, when our students are actually connecting wires and running source code, there are lots of opportunities for things to go wrong and for the students to learn from the experience. There is great joy in finally getting something to work after a failure. Our workshops hold space for making and correcting mistakes. Sometimes you just gotta take it apart and put it back together again. One of our favorite sayings around the shop is: “Have you turned it off and on again?”
MW: What excites you most about the future of STEM education?
JM: We now have machines that can quickly give you answers to most anything you can ask at the push of a button; real experience that kids can get in workshops like ours is crucial and cannot be copy-and-pasted. I am excited to see a trend of STEM-related education classes being offered across the country, and I am honored to provide this service in my hometown.
MW: Tell us about your classes and how to sign up for them.
JM: Our current offerings include “My First Robot” and “Introduction To 3D Printing” with plans to add more classes and private tutoring in the future. You can find our current offerings and sign up for classes at https://flatlinerobotics.com.
MW: What’s one lesson you hope every student takes away after taking a class at Flatline Robotics?
JM: You can do hard things!
