Boy Scouts Add Robotics Merit Badge

Furthering the Boy Scouts of America's STEM initiative, next week a new robotics merit badge will be unveiled.  "We view STEM as an essential survival skill in the 21st century.  We're just trying to keep relevant with what kids need to learn," says BSA's Matt Myers in an NPR posting.  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=135228346 .  In order to earn the badge, scouts will have to design and build a robot, while learning about sensors, programming, and movement.  The badge will depict the NASA Mars rover;100 patches will be flown on the upcoming Endeavour space shuttle flight and be distributed through a contest.