GILBERT, Ariz. — In a stunning intersection of computing history and inclusive education, students at PS Academy have achieved the impossible: the construction of an ENIAC full-scale replica.

Led by technology instructor Tom Burick, the project celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, a machine that redefined the limits of human calculation in the 1940s.

For the students of PS Academy—a specialized school for those with autism and unique learning requirements—the project was more than a history lesson. It was a demonstration of cognitive strength.

From Childhood Dreams to Robotic Innovation

Tom Burick’s journey into the world of building began in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, sparked by the protective robot in the classic television series Lost in Space.

That childhood fascination evolved into a rigorous self-taught discipline. By age 15, Burick had already engineered a 150-pound steel firefighting robot, earning accolades from the IEEE and other premier organizations.

His hunger for knowledge led him to seek mentorship outside the traditional classroom. A visit to Carnegie Mellon University provided him with a glimpse into high-level robotics, while a local instructor at Saint Vincent College allowed him to audit classes to fill his knowledge gaps.

However, the traditional academic route wasn’t for Burick. He struggled with dyscalculia, a learning disability that makes mathematics challenging.

Rather than seeing this as a barrier, Burick viewed it as a catalyst, forcing him to develop alternative, intuitive methods of engineering that relied on visual and spatial logic.

The Rise and Pivot of White Box Robotics

Burick eventually transitioned his passion into a business. In 2000, he launched White Box Robotics, applying the “white box” PC philosophy—using off-the-shelf, modular components—to the world of robotics.

He developed the 914 PC-Bot, a modular platform that allowed users to swap sensors or expand payloads as easily as clicking together Lego bricks. His innovation led to several patents and a merger with Frontline Robotics, eventually exporting units to 17 different countries.

When the 2008 financial crisis shuttered his business in 2010, Burick faced a crossroads. Remembering the mentors who had shifted his own life’s trajectory, he decided to enter the classroom to pay that debt forward.

Engineering a Superpower

Now a technology instructor, Burick leverages his own neurodivergence to empower his students. He openly discusses how his dyscalculia created a “mental CAD program” that runs 24 hours a day, granting him superior 3D spatial reasoning.

“People tell you what it takes, but they never tell you what it gives,” Burick says. By framing autism and learning differences as “superpowers,” he encourages his students to embrace their tenacity.

Does the modern education system overlook the immense value of divergent thinking in technical fields?

Burick’s curriculum is designed to avoid the “craft hour” feel, instead opting for high-stakes, complex reconstructions that reward the ability to hyperfocus and execute repetitive tasks with absolute precision.

Reconstructing a Lost Giant

The ENIAC project began as a quest to resurrect a ghost. The original machine was decommissioned in 1955 and largely destroyed; today, only fragments exist in museums.

To bridge the gap between theory and reality, Burick and his students first built a one-twelfth scale model. Once the students mastered the geometry, they pivoted to the full-scale version.

The construction was a feat of patience and precision:

• The Structure: 40 large panels arranged in a U-shape.
• The Details: 18,000 simulated vacuum tubes installed by hand.
• The Materials: 300 square meters of cardboard and 1,600 hot-glue sticks.
• The Finish: Seven gallons of black paint to achieve the historic aesthetic.

The precision required was absolute. Because the panels were repetitive, a single millimeter of error in one section would compound, potentially throwing the entire 40-panel array out of alignment.

Can we imagine a future where neurodivergent-led design becomes the standard for complex engineering?

This is not the group’s first foray into ambitious builds; they previously constructed a drivable, 8-foot Tesla Cybertruck equipped with a professional-grade subwoofer system. Looking ahead, Burick is eyeing the Apollo moon missions for their next historical recreation.

For Burick, the reward isn’t the finished model, but the look in his students’ eyes—a feeling of being “in a room full of scientists.”

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