Hacker Dojos
Offer
Collaboration
Opps for
Robot
Hobbyists
By Jeremy Kerfs
Developer communities help
others, and collaborate for better
projects. Making robots and
gadgets by yourself can be great
fun, but the enjoyment skyrockets
when you can figure out thorny
problems in collaboration with
friends. For example, when the
scripting language is beyond you,
someone else can take over that
aspect while you fix the gear box.
This collaboration is not only used
in hobbyist circles, but every
well-run tech company encourages
even the most brilliant engineers
and scientists to work with each
other, increasing productivity
and creativity.
60 SERVO 01.2010
One group of hackers created a popular community in Silicon Valley to allow people to exchange ideas and hang out with others who shared their interest in engineering and eveloping. They started with a series of
events called "Super Happy Dev House." These were hosted
at corporate venues and sponsored by large tech
companies. During the one day event, anyone could walk in
and try out new inventions, talk to the creators, and make
their own creations on the spot. Free Internet access, food,
and fellow developers lured hundreds of people to the
events.
Eventually, the founders decided that meeting
occasionally was not enough, so they invested in a huge
endeavor to create a permanent place for hackers and
makers. The result was Hacker Dojo: a 4,400 foot building
in Mountain View, CA. For $100 a month, you are granted
unlimited access to its facilities; you can come in anytime
and tinker around the clock. Classes are held about subjects
ranging from knot tying to programming Python and
constructing circuit boards.
In the building, there is equipment ready for any
project. Soldering irons and electronics components are put
in a special room. In other rooms, couches alongside
dozens of outlets are ready for programmers to start
coding. A large room with projectors is set up for
presentations and speakers.
Besides this normal everyday function, the facilities host
