Robotics

These resources provide inspiration for teaching about control systems, sensors and smart technology. The activities include designing a control system for a swarm of tiny robots so that they can work together to achieve great things, using biomimicry in design and two great ideas for robot building challenges. From an inspiring careers video showing where robotics can take you, to a video which looks at the ethics of how far robotics and control systems should go, these resources will inspire your students.

Quality AssuredCategory:Design and technologyPublisher:Technology Enhancement Programme

This publication, from the Technology Enhancement Programme (TEP), is about the Shadow Air Muscle. This is a device for producing movement and is commercially available from the Shadow Robot Company.

The book covers some activities that can be carried out using the 'muscle', to design devices such as:

• a gripping aid for people with weak hands
• a barrier that can be raised and lowered to allow access
• articulated puppets
• a robot arm

There are full notes on assembling the shadow air muscle sample pack and diagrams showing how demonstrations can be set up

Quality AssuredCategory:Design and technologyPublisher:Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)

Scientists and engineers have been trying to explain the behaviour of swarms and flocks of animals for years. This research has led them to realise that seemingly complex swarm behaviour is actually produced by the individual members following a very simple set of rules.

They realised that there could be many uses for small, simple robots that work together in swarms. Individually, tiny robots may not be able to accomplish much, but get them working together and they can do a tremendous amount.

Students are challenged to design the control system for the SR4000 Swarmbot. This simple robot is designed to work in swarms and move like an insect to navigate rough terrain. Thier task as engineers is to come up with a way of controlling the swarm, while allowing the swarmbots to operate with maximum efficiency

This video shows how building robots can lead to an exciting career.

In year 7 at school Martin entered an engineer's competition and decided to make a hovering car. It was ambitious but made him realize what he could accomplish if he put his mind to it and he hasn't looked back since. At university he attended a careers fair with a robot he had built, his current employer approached him and they took him on

Quality AssuredCategory:CareersPublisher:University of Cambridge

Encourage student's imagination when designing how their robots might move. This video illustrates how biomimicry can be used to develop design and engineering solutions.

Ants have incredibly sticky feet. With them they can hang onto ceilings, whilst carrying 100 times their body weight. But if they are stuck down so successfully - how do they ever get them unstuck?

Chris Clemente, from Cambridge University, considers the applications that this might one day have to develop a 'supersuper glue' and to improve the movement of robots.

Quality AssuredCollectionCategory:Design and technologyPublisher:Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)

Engineers, scientists and doctors are now designing robotic systems which will be able to operate on patients with no human intervention at all.

Students investigate the necessity of developing standards and protocols for communication using a basic electrical circuit. They also learn how a heart surgeon in London can carry out a procedure on a patient in Italy using remote surgery.

Quality AssuredCategory:Design and technologyPublisher:Teachers TV

An inspiring programme which shows the huge benefits for both teachers and students that can come with tackling an ambitious project far away from home.

Teams of students are challenged build a robot which must be capable of competing in a basketball type game. The two teams in the film must build and test their robot before travelling to America to take part in a competition against hundreds of other schools.

Although this project was part of a international competition, the concept can be adapted to form the basis of a school wide or inter-school challenge.

Quality AssuredCategory:SciencePublisher:European Space Agency (ESA)

This video can be used to inspire students who ae beginning to explore aspects of robotics such as robotic movement mechanics, sensors, programming and control.

Quality AssuredCategory:Design and technologyPublisher:OFSTED

This case study from Ofsted describes the development of an innovative and relevant design and technology curriculum at Turnford School, which has secured high levels of engagement and achievement. Projects include robot design.

This engaging website is well worth exploring, with lesson plans, careers resources, images and information.