SNIPPETS
Circulated to schools,
organisations and individuals.
Using Robotics to Foster Innovation
& Creativity with
Mindstorms, Arduino and the Android
National Science and
Engineering Week
"Our World in
Motion”
09th
– 18th March 2012
Updated 02/02/12
Bosch Technology Horizons Award 2012
http://www.bosch.co.uk/technologyhorizons/press/about/
A national essay-writing
competition.
Closing
date: 20th April 2012
Google Science Fair
http://www.google.com/intl/en/events/sciencefair/enter.html
Google is looking for the
brightest young scientists from around the world to submit interesting,
creative projects that are relevant to the world today.
To enter, you need to
register on the website.
All entries must be
submitted by 1 April
2012.
Climate Week Challenge
http://www.climateweek.com/challenge/
The
exact Challenge is kept as a secret until 9am on 12 March 2012, when it will be
revealed online and the competition begins!
No
preparation is required. All that a team needs to participate is a table at
which to work. It is a powerful way of developing creativity, teamwork,
environmental knowledge, problem-solving and communications skills.
Register
by 5 March
Great
Global Adventure
For 5-14 year olds, this out-of-the-box poster competition
is a simple way for schools to take part in National Science & Engineering
Week.
Closing date Monday 2nd April 2012
Updated 16/01/12
Monorail
Ardinuo controlled Kre8
monorail is now leaving platform...
forward and reverse from a
touch sensor at the front.
Now to get the
monorail to stop at a station and then carry on its journey.
Foil along the
platform and a light sensor should do the trick.
Updated
15/01/12
Science and Technology Challenge Day
Good session at Hope University Liverpool for Science+Technology Challenge event.
A body finding, line following robot
with touch/light sensors.
Updated 14/01/12
Projects for the Year
I have decided that the Coding/Programming Project, with
scratch/wiring/processing/python etc
and the monorail/coding game will be my top priority
for the rest of this academic year.
The Automated Flight and Wearable Technology Projects, although worth an
investigate,
will have to go onto the back burner.
Updated 12/01/12
School Grants Scheme
http://www.iop.org/about/grants/school/page_38824.html
£500 for Physics Projects.
The next closing date for applications is the 1st February 2012, for projects taking place
in the summer term.
Evolution of
Computer Languages
http://www.rackspace.com/cloud/blog/2011/05/17/infographic-evolution-of-computer-languages/
Updated 10/01/12
Snake
Wrangling for Kids
http://www.briggs.net.nz/log/writing/snake-wrangling-for-kids/
Learning to Program
with Python
Projects for the Year
Wearable Technology
Monorail
Coding and Programming –
scratch/wiring/processing/python.
Automated Flight
Updated 09/01/12
Scratch Resources
http://www.smsn.vic.edu.au/ictguy/index.php/scratch-resources/
Updated 07/01/12
Schools Computer Animation Competition
http://animation12.cs.manchester.ac.uk/
The University of Manchester is hosting its
5th annual UK Schools Computer Animation Competition celebrating Alan
Turing Year.
Scratch is one of the applications students, ages 7-19, can use to
create submissions for the festival.
Partnership Grants
http://royalsociety.org/education/partnership/
Up to £3,000 for science projects run at a primary or secondary school
in partnership with a professional scientist or engineer.
The next round will close on 24 February
2012.
Updated 03/01/12
The Rise of
Personal Robots
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAnHjuTQF3M&feature=player_embedded#!
A fascinating talk and glimpse
into the future
Updated 02/01/12
Leonardo Robot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilmDN2e_Flc
The Interactive Soft
Toy/Rapid Prototyping Activity that I do with schools shows a very very elementary form of this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVwpwg0Z2XE&list=UUuxVNdGLGb_XcVvE_tebZxA&index=10&feature=plcp
Updated 31/12/11
FlameBot Robot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAUJYTO7Kf8
A school event, perhaps, I’m certain I would not
get away with it!!
Updated 26/12/11
Wendell the Robot
http://www.instructables.com/id/Wendell-the-Robot/
Updated 22/12/11
http://seaside.citilab.eu/scratch
This is a modification of the well known
Scratch software that supports simple programming of the Arduino
open source hardware platform.
I have not got my head around it yet but it
looks interesting.
Should be easier, as a
starter, than using the simplified C/C++ that the Arduino
uses.
Updated 21/12/11
KINETICA ART FAIR 2012
http://www.kinetica-artfair.com/?about_us/art-fair.html
9 – 12 February 2012
Ambika P3,
Marylebone Rd (opp. Baker Street Tube), London, NW1 5LS
I must get to this but I’ve said that for the last few years.
Updated 19/12/11
ENCHANTING
http://enchanting.robotclub.ab.ca/tiki-index.php
I’ve only recently come
across this and it seems excellent.
Below is the vision for
Enchanting, taken from their web site.
Scratch seems excellent
as well.
My
comments in red.
Children have two types of choices when programming robots:
graphical programming, that supplied by Lego for its RCX or NXT.
text-based programming, like C or C++, a simplified version is used for the Arduino microcontroller
Text-based programming is a wonderful place to get to, but it is no
place to start.
Even beyond syntax errors, many children who are ready to thrive on
robotics simply can't type well enough to have a successful experience. - excellent point
Well, then, what of graphical programming?
LEGO offers the NXT-G programming environment with NXT retail kits. “It is, simply,
frustrating to use. Much time and energy
is put into working around the system than with it, and, unfortunately, version
2.0 does not seem to be significantly less buggy to me.”
The goal of ENCHANTING, based on
SCRATCH, is for children to program their robots, especially their LEGO Mindstorms NXT robots.
Children are accomplishing amazing things with SCRATCH.
ENCHANTING, enables
children to program their robots in creative ways
and support them from simple projects up to fairly
complex projects, from driving in a straight line to solving mazes to
navigating an unknown etc.
SCRATCH
and ENCHANTING are open source and free.
Updated 19/12/11
Arduino Robot – Update
This now looks like the “end product”.
Using a six legged
gearbox, motor drivers and line following sensors, with form board as the base.
Updated 18/12/11
Lego Antikythera Mechanism
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLPVCJjTNgk&feature=related
Working Lego model of the world’s oldest
known computer, The Antikythera
Mechanism.
Digital Lego Clock Goes Tick-Tock
http://www.pcworld.com/article/243261/digital_lego_clock_goes_ticktock.html
The Fun of Changing Hats
http://www.seeedstudio.com/blog/2011/12/19/nfc-robot-project-the-fun-of-changing-hats/
This is excellent.
Certainly an idea for an activity
Updated 15/12/11
Kingsford
Secondary School Beckton London
My third visit to this school.
This time for two
days, using Lego’s NXT, for RoboCup, excellent builds
and programming.
Organised by Generating Genius
Martin
Primary School East Finchley London
Repeat visit to this primary school.
This time for line following robots and some excellent
toy hacking.
Updated 10/12/11
Tiverton,
Devon
An excellent two day seminar on
STEM IN TEACHING SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY at PRIMARY/SECONDARY
TRANSITION
funded by AztraZeneca Science Teaching Trust
Camelford
Primary Cornwall
Two great sessions, where youngsters undertook line
following robots and teddy hacking.
Rackenford Primary
Devon
All day event at this primary small
school.
Youngsters were great and undertook line following/soccer
with light sensor and use of tank tracks, with light and touch sensors
and rapid prototyping
via teddy hacking
Updated 03/12/11
Creepy Crawly Slug Rescue Robot
This would scare the person waiting to be rescued!!!
Cork Science Festival
Excellent two weeks, visiting primary and secondary schools, with a
family weekend at Cork Civic Hall.
Brilliant work and great fun.
Plenty of teddy hacking.
Galway Science Festival
Out to primary schools, followed by a family day at
National University of Ireland.
This time line following robots.
Another exceptional round of activities
Salters' Festivals of Chemistry
http://www.salters.co.uk/festivals/
Students aged 11-13 are invited to take part.
Entry is free and each school can submit a team of four
students.
Places are served on a first come first served basis, so
enter early to make sure your school secures a place.
The closing date for entries is 31 January 2012
Updated 18/10/11
Quantum Levitation:
How it Works
http://sciencefocus.com/blog/quantum-levitation-how-it-works
Superconducting Maglev
Train Model
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1awpgqmzsk
Win a trip to NASA
Summer Camp
The competition, which is sponsored by the US Embassy to Ireland, will
be launched during Science Week this November.
Quantum Levitation
Amazing
Updated 17/10/11
Robot even goes to Subway, if one not found in fridge!!!
Wash Your Hair Sir?
Hair-washing robot with 24 fingers
Updated 14/10/11
The Big Science
Challenge!
http://schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org/the-big-science-challenge
The competition is open to teams of up to 5 young people aged 11-16 from
secondary schools in the
I’m afraid I could not find the closing date!!!
Updated 13/10/11
How to Build a Time
Machine
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/nstv/2011/10/how-to-build-a-time-machine.html
Whereas time travel….
Interactive Tour of
the Solar System
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/tour-solar-system.html
Again not my area but looks good
NSEW
Small Grants for all Scottish Schools http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/nsew/NSEWFunding/Scottish+Government+Grants.htm
Application deadline:
5pm, Friday 4th November 2011
Information on the
Kick-Start Fund for schools in Challenging Circumstances
http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/nsew/NSEWFunding/smallgrants.htm
Small grants for National Science and Engineering Week (NSEW)
Application
deadline: 28th October 2011, 5pm.
Making Movable Art
and Robotics a Little Easier with Arduino
Updated 12/10/11
Biological
Animations from University of Alberta
http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/facilities/multimedia/?Page=271
Not my area but they look good.
Updated 11/10/11
Flying, Flocking and
Squirming Robots
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/onepercent/2011/10/flying-flocking-and-squirming.html
Updated 10/10/11
“The inventors of
tomorrow have to be inspired today.”
http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/sir-james-dyson
An excellent piece by Sir James Dyson
2011 Science Snaps
Competition
http://www.scienceweek.ie/competitions_snaps.asp
This competition invites students and members of the public to capture
‘The Chemistry of Life’,
the 2011 Science Week theme for Ireland.
The closing date for entries is Friday October 14th
Speed Vest for Night
Cycling
http://arduino.cc/blog/2011/10/10/speed-vest-for-night-cycling/
An Arduino microcontroller reads input from
the speedometer sensor and
then switches power to sewn-in numerals made from
electroluminescent (EL) wire.
ROBOTS
Organised by the Charity Generating Genius
Monday 31st October - Friday 04th November
31 Year 9 Robots
01 Year 9 Robots
02 Year 7/8 Robots
03 Year 7/8 Robots
04 Year 7/8/9 Robots Show & Tell
Tour of Devon & Cornwall
Tuesday 29th November - Friday 2nd December
29 NXT RoboOlympics @ Tiveton
Devon
30 NXT RoboOlympics @ Tiveton
Devon
01 RCX Robots @ Camelford Primary School
02 RCX Robots @ Rackenford Primary
Jumper Bots
The last robot is fully autonomous. It has on board power sensing and
control.
A photo transistor uses light and switches charge stored in a capacitor.
Updated 09/10/11
ACTIVITIES
These events can be adapted to run over a different number of days
but the amount of programming/finished article will
obviously vary.
Lego’s RCX Robots
Can be done IMMEDIATELY
Perfect as an introduction
Scrap Yard Challenge
I think this is now better named as a Hack Challenge
Can be done IMMEDIATELY
- given "old toys/equipment" available etc
Arduino could be used as the control
microprocessor.
Lego’s NXT Robots
Can be done IMMEDIATELY
Use for RoboCup events.
Uses RoboLab, Lego's
software.
Google Inventor
Apps
- in a week
Can be done IMMEDIATELY
Develop an Android App to control Lego's NXT Robot
A week long event that is very much student
centred. Ideal for G&T
Google Inventor Apps
- in a day
Needs a bit of DEVELOPMENT
As above but trying to fit into a day event.
Arduino Robot
Needs a bit of DEVELOPMENT
Sent the wrong layout diagram for the motor
drivers.
Air Swimmers
This is a RC helium filled balloon, shaped like a Clown Fish, it works
brilliantly.
Needs a lot of DEVELOPMENT
Want to fit an Arduino microprocessor and a
sensor to make it an autonomous "blimp"
Helium Balloons
Needs a lot of DEVELOPMENT
This is a version of above but uses helium filled balloons to give a foam board platform buoyancy.
Again with Arduino and
sensor.
Updated 06/10/11
Arduino Robot - Update
I knew I had to rethink my own Arduino robot,
after watching the Lottie Lemon Arduino Robot System,
http://arduino.cc/playground/En/LottieLemon.
I’ve decided to use a “six leg walking gearbox kit” as the motorised
unit.
The kit is relatively easy to construct, well my son managed it!!!
The foam board is the ideal thing for the base, being light and strong,
and will hold the Arduino and motor drivers.
I was doing so well, until the motor drive kit arrived. The on-line list
of components did not match what I had received!!!
I’m now waiting for the stockist to get in touch with the manufacturer
to find out what components I should have.
Air Swimmers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRG4xfJcLF4k
I bought the shark version of this and it must have been a “Friday job”,
as the remote control did not work that well.
I swapped
it for a clown fish variety and it worked perfectly, purely coincidental I
think.
I’m planning to use these at the Cork/Galway Science Festivals,
as an introduction to my Lego Mindstorms
robot event for primary youngsters.
Updated 04/10/11
Are you making the most of the
current funding opportunities?
1)
Match-funding for systematic synthetic phonics
2)
Pupil Premium
3)
Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)
Updated 03/10/11
Ready for the Robot Revolution?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15146053
Robots are coming, from performing household chores, to entertaining and
educating our children, to looking after the elderly….
I have warned you of this before, they are after world domination!!!
STEM Challenge 8
http://www.stemnet.org.uk/news/view/1232238
Students will work in teams to complete tasks directly connected to the
They will need to make recommendations on how more people can take part
in Paralympic sports.
STEM Challenges are open to all pupils aged 11-14 years in registered
state schools in the
Teams must be registered by Friday
25th November.
Robotic Diet Helper
http://www.robotsnob.com/archives/2011/09/autom-diet-helper-now-availabl.php
I really do not need one of these, I’m racing snake slim.
Updated 02/10/11
Learn to code
Updated 01/10/11
Schrödinger's Cat
http://www.youtube.com/user/minutephysics#p/c/7/qyi5SvPlMXc
Who is looking at us?
Beckton,
ROBOTS
Monday 31st October - Friday 04th November
Been here before, I wonder if I’ll see any of the youngsters from last
time?
Updated 29/09/11
So You Want To Be A
Scientist?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/sywtbas/
This is open to anyone aged 16 or over, living in
the
The only ideas that are no no
are inventions.
The closing date is 31st October 2011.
James Dyson Award
2011: Top 20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kJQs3KwI4Q
Some excellent projects from the James Dyson Foundation
Can you help humans survive in
space?
The competition is open to all
The final deadline for submitting entries is 13
November 2011
Updated 27/09/11
Lottie Lemon Arduino Robot System
http://arduino.cc/playground/En/LottieLemon
A great video and something for schools to consider
for RoboCup.
My Arduino robot looks a bit sorry for itself,
after watching this video.
Back to the drawing board, yet again.
2011 Science Raps
Competition
http://www.scienceweek.ie/competitions_raps.asp
Another competition
for Irish schools
All you need to do is compose, perform and video your rap on the
‘Chemistry of Life’ taking inspiration from your everyday life.
Closing date is Tuesday, November
8th 2011.
Updated 26/09/11
Global Entrepreneurship Week
14th – 20th
November 2011
http://www.gew.org.uk/about/step-by-step_guide
Do you want to get involved in Global Entrepreneurship
Week but don’t know where to start?
Then this step-by-step guide to organising an event
is for you.
Xperience Engineering Project
http://steps.ie/teachers/primary/xperience-engineering/xperience-overview.aspx
The Xperience Engineering Project is a primary
school initiative, for Irish schools, which aims to spark an
interest in engineering while covering important curriculum
links.
Schools register to compete in this project and then have five months to
develop their ideas.
Register between 21st of
September and the 21st of October
Cracking Ideas
Competition
http://www.crackingideas.com/competition/
A Wallace & Gromit Sporty Cracking Ideas Competition
Closing Date 30th
April 2012
Animation 12
Computer Animators
Competition
http://www.bee-it.co.uk/blogslink/644-computer-animation-competition-opens-for-2012-entries.html
This is a free-to-enter competition, designed to
enthuse young people about computer science and ICT.
It is open to all
The closing date for entries is 23 March 2012
A Brief Introduction
to Genetics
Not my area but very
interesting
Talking bins
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15053656
Could have made them robotic bins and programmed them to wheel to the
curb, when it was bin day!!
This one uses the ocean's wave energy to move along so it needs no
batteries and or waste the planet's natural resources
Updated 25/09/11
Russian Festival of
Science 2011
Excellent video promoting Russian Science Festival
Updated 24/09/11
Microsoft
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/teachers/
One-day conference, which is free of charge to all
teachers and educators.
The workshops and keynotes this year have a STEM ‘flavour’.
Microsoft Headquarters,
Sounds like fun but I’m doing robots in
Updated 23/09/11
Engineers make
'Robot Legs' for Stroke Patients
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14823404
MABEL Bipedal Robot
is Fast Enough to Run You Down
Updated 21/09/11
Design a
http://diyjobdone.com/resources/growit_competition
The competition is open to all pupils aged 5-16 in
Copper is....on Film! Competition
Enter a video-making
competition to highlight copper’s hidden role in our daily lives!
Age: 11-16
Deadline: Dec 7th 2011
Updated 20/09/11
Invitations into
Researchers’ Night
http://www.qmul.ac.uk/invitationsinto/
Queen Mary’s College,
Friday 23rd September
1500 - 2100
Microsoft Robotics@Home Competition
http://www.roboticsathome.com/
A great competition but it seems only open to American residents.
What I did like is this list of robot scenarios:
Consumer Usage Scenarios
Examples : Gaming, Video, Music, Security, Productivity, Education, etc.
Human Robot Interaction
Examples : Gestures, Speech, Behaviours, Skeletal
Tracking, Face Detection, etc.
Autonomous Navigation
Examples :
Updated 19/09/11
League of
Extraordinary Elements
http://www.scienceweek.ie/competitions_extra.asp
All across
to celebrate Science Week 2011 and its theme ‘The
Chemistry of Life’.
The deadline is Friday October
28th November 2011
Half-term in
Bursary funding available
https://www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk/centres/london/news/26268
Updated 18/09/11
Arduino Robot - Update
The 5mm thick foam board
worked but a bit messy to cut though.
I’m using 3M’s Dual Lock,
like Velcro, to secure the motor and Arduino to the
foam board base.
I will only get the
motors to go forward, ideal for a line follower.
This makes the drive
circuit, shield in Arduino speak, much easier.
It’s a simple single
stage transistor, with no problems about reversing.
This also makes the
programming easier.
I may need larger
diameter wheels or tyres, for the wheels I have at the moment.
Updated 17/09/11
Primary
Youngsters will Build Their Own Designs
with Lego’s RCX Mindstorms
21st - 27th November
21 - 25 School Workshops
27 Exhibition -
FREE National Grid
STEM Days up for grabs!
http://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1313&Itemid=117
STEM Days
for Year 9 or 10 pupils
Updated 16/09/11
21st –
27th November
I’m going to this event, just after the Cork
Festival.
That will be three weeks in
Updated 15/09/11
Arduino Robot - Update
The 5mm thick foam board has
arrived, looks ideal for the base of the robot.
LEGO® Smart
Creature Competition
http://legoeducationuk.wordpress.com/2011/09/15/can-you-build-a-lego%C2%AE-smart-creature/
Request a free LEGO smart kit for your school.
Enter the competition and they could win up to £250 in LEGO®
Education vouchers for your school.
LEGO smart kits are available until Monday 31 October 2011.
All photos must be submitted by Wednesday 30 November 2011.
Hampstead
Scientific Society Programme
http://www.hampsteadscience.ac.uk/hss_prog.htm
http://www.hampsteadscience.ac.uk/rss_prog.htm
Not heard of these before but their programmes seem very interesting.
Updated 14/09/11
World Space Week
http://www.bco.ie/2011/08/world-space-week-2011/
October 4 – 10
Ford Plant Hires
Dozens of Robots, Few Humans
http://www.robotsnob.com/archives/2011/09/ford-plant-hires-dozens-of-rob.php
So world domination is getting closer!!
This was highlighted in an IEEE report, around Xmas time last year.
The title was “The Robots are coming, the robots are coming – they are
after our jobs”
Designs for Learning
Competition
http://www.inventorium.org/events/designs-for-learning-competition/
Competition for new
products and services, which bridge home, school and gallery based learning.
This public competition is open to anyone who has a great idea.
Competition Opens: 1 Sept
Competition Closes: 30 Sept
Finalists announced: 17 Oct
6 week development period: 18 Oct – 29 Nov
Competition Final: 2 Dec
Robot ‘
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20791-robot-mission-impossible-wins-video-prize.html
Swarmanoids are here
Updated 13/09/11
Arduino Robot
I’ll have to start
looking at this again.
I have the Arduinos and the sensors.
I need to test out a
cheap dc motor I recently bought but I’m still looking for a cheap motor shield
- the
Arduino does not deliver too much current - and a
material for the base.
I’ve just ordered some
5mm thick foam board which I’m hoping will do the trick.
Air Swimmers Remote Controlled Flying Shark and
Clown Fish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRG4xfJcLF4
These look great, but remote controlled.
I’ll have to see if an Arduino
would fit into the shark, so becoming a robotic flying shark.
I’ll have to buy one.
Updated 12/09/11
DIY Animatronic Head
A good
project, using the Arduino, perhaps.
Bacarobo Cup - Stupid Robot
Championship
30th October
Updated 10/09/11
Events Coming Up:
Primary Youngsters
will Build Their Own Designs
with Lego’s RCX Mindstorms
06th November - 18th November
07 - 11 School Workshops
12 - 15
16 - 18 School Workshops
Tour of Devon &
Cornwall
Primary Youngsters
will Build & Design Interactive Soft Toys
with Lego’s RCX Mindstorms
28th November - 2nd December
28 Robots @ Camelford Primary School Cornwall
29 DATE AVAILABLE
30 RoboOlympics @ Tiveton
Devon
01 DATE AVAILABLE
02 Robots @ Rackenford Primary Devon
Updated 08/09/11
Lego’s - The George Sighting Competition
http://www.facebook.com/notes/lego/the-george-sighting-competition/10150289790618403
September 29, 2011 by 3pm (Central European Time)
Updated 07/09/11
IET Faraday
Challenge Day (ages 12-13)
http://www.youngeng.org/index.asp?page=56
Faraday Challenge Days give 12-13 yr old students the opportunity to
design
and make a prototype solution to a genuine engineering
challenge and are delivered in schools free of charge by the IET.
Closing Monday 12th September
2011
Updated 06/09/11
Science Competition
for Primary Schools in
Sponsored by leading telecoms company Ericsson in
association with the Atlantic Corridor Development Agency.
Class projects should demonstrate the everyday value of understanding
science and maths.
Closing Date 23rd
December 2011
WHOOOOSH! The Thorite Rocket Challenge
http://www.beinvolved.co.uk/news.php?id=56
Thursday the 15th September
at
http://www.nationalstemcentre.org.uk/news/uk-space-design-competition-2012
13 November 2011 -
Deadline for entry
Partnership Grants
http://royalsociety.org/education/partnership/
The scheme provides grants of up to £3,000 for science projects run at a
primary/secondary/college in
partnership with a professional scientist or engineer.
The round closes on 4 November
2011.
Arduino Comic
http://www.jodyculkin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/arduino-comic-latest.pdf
A great read
Updated 05/09/11
Programme for the
http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/
22nd October – 30th October
Updated 02/09/11
National Science and Engineering Week Kick-Start Fund for Schools
http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/NSEW/NSEWFunding/smallgrants.htm
Application deadline:
28th October 2011, 5pm.
£200 grant to 500 eligible schools in the
to help take the work out of organising
your own NSEW events and activities.
The
http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/OxfordRobotGames/
Wednesday 5th October or Friday
9th December 2011, both 9:30am — 3:30pm
Design and build a robot, then pitch it
against the
Mathematics Grants
for Schools
http://www.mathswithadil.com/archives/260
Schools looking to do mathematics enrichment and enhancement activities
can apply for a grant from
The Royal Institution of Great Britain to fund up to £500 of activity
from anything listed in the online STEM directories
Closing Date 16/09/11
Updated 31/08/11
National Science & Engineering Week (NSEW) Information Sessions
http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/nsew/AboutNSEW/InfoSessions/InfoSessions.htm
Information Session Schedule
http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/nsew/AboutNSEW/InfoSessions/InfoSessionSchedule.htm
NSEW is 9-18 March 2012 and
the theme will be "Our World in
Motion".
Imperial War Museum at Duxford
06th
August - 11th August
22nd August - 23rd August
26th August - 30th August
I’ve been under the shadow of Concorde and besides the TSR2, at the
making line following tank robots with families, using
Lego’s RCX.
Updated 20/08/11
http://paper.li/kamyousaf/1310904959
This is a great read, I'm in it!!!
Robot Day Care
http://www.youtube.com/user/GEICO?blend=1&ob=5#p/a/139A69A037F3A12D/1/B_Qc_nmSUGQ
It’s a part of the master plan to take over
the world!!!
Generating Genius at
(15th – 19th August)
The youngsters had to create
an app
for an Android mobile phone, using Google’s App Inventor.
The app was meant to control Lego’s NXT robot
via Bluetooth.
A minimum of one sensor (sound, ultrasonic,
touch, light) had to be used.
This was followed by a presentation before a
panel of judges.
All the teams did very well, with at least two
sensors per robot, and with some excellent presentations.
A great week “in the
cloud”.
Updated 13/08/11
Public Engagement
Grants
http://www.raeng.org.uk/societygov/public_engagement/ingenious/grants.htm
Grants from the
Closing date: 14th
October 2011
Projects must begin after 1st April
2012, projects must be completed
and the final invoice
and final report received by 31st July 2013.
Robot Landing Platform Formation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zbIs7hS-OMs
Pancake Bot
http://makermig.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-pancake-bot-works.html
Electronic Circuit in a Tattoo
http://dangerousprototypes.com/2011/08/12/electronic-circuit-in-a-tattoo/?source=twitter
Updated 12/08/11
DIY Inkjet Printer with Arduino
http://arduino.cc/blog/2011/08/12/arduino-controlled-robot-brings-pointillism-back/
(06th – 11th
August)
I’ve been under the shadow of Concorde, at the
Updated 05/08/11
£200 to set up a New
STEM Club
http://www.raeng.org.uk/education/eenp/engineering_resources/stem_club_resources.htm
The Royal Academy of Engineering offers support to new STEM
Clubs.
They have £200 grant to the club leader to support them setting
up and running their STEM club.
Updated 04/08/11
National
Science & Engineering Competition
http://www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/nsec/
Open to all 11-18 year olds in
the
The finals of the Competition
are held each March as a central part of The Big Bang Engineers Fair.
Teams and individuals compete
in one of three age categories.
Entry projects must have been
carried out/completed between 1 July 2010 and 31 October 2011.
This sounds like a
job for a robot, such as the Arduino. What else could
win???
European Robotics Week
28th of November - 4th of December
2011
Updated 01/08/11
My Robotics Stuff
Lego’s WeDo
An excellent kit, which is cheaper than Lego’s Mindstorms
NXT, which uses a computer as the “brain”, hence the lower price.
Easy to build
instructions and drop & drag programming.
It is not
mobile; it would have to carry the computer, but comes with motors and sensors,
an excellent starter kit for primary schools.
I use it to
show that robot systems can take many forms, not just like the NXT, and it’s
great for the creativity and innovation sessions.
Lego’s RCX
Unfortunately
Lego do not make this any more but my most popular
events in primary and secondary schools use it.
A simple robot
is quickly built and programmed.
Events include:
Interactive Soft Toys
(from NESTA’s iDiscover project/creativity and
innovation)
Introduction to RoboCup Competition (both search and soccer)
Family Events etc.
Lego’s NXT
This is the
newest robot kit from Lego and an excellent of piece of kit.
My main
involvement has been with programming the NXT with gifted and talented
youngsters from secondary schools.
A recent
project (via Generating Genius) is the use of Goole’s Inventor Apps
programming
to write an Android App
and control the NXT via Bluetooth.
Arduino
This has taken
the control world by storm in recent years.
It has plenty
of inputs and outputs, with an array of sensors.
I have used it
with the Interactive Soft Toys but it offers an excellent opportunity
for youngsters
to build their own robotic sytems
or even their own mobile robot, say for RoboCup.
Programmed in a simplified of version of C/C++.
What’s On
August
Robots at
Apps Inventor – “Android Control of NXT” for Generating Genius at
November
Cork Science Festival
Teachers RoboOlympics Tiverton, Devon
What’s Been and Gone
Another great time at
this excellent event, I’m there this year.
NESTA’s iDiscover
This finished this year, started the academic year
in schools in
This saw
the development of interactive soft toys
and the use of the Arduino.
Creative
Learning Partnership
At Sacred
One team got SILVER at the South East Essex
Design Competition
Science and Technology Challenge Days
Another
large number of these, including events at South Bank,
RoboCup Regional Finals
Many held
at Queen Mary’s College,
There should
be about four this year.
Steve
www.steve-thomas.co.uk