Junkbots

Junkbots training for University of Northampton STEM Champions on 23rd February 2015. Training lead by Scott Turner. (c) Linda Davis-Sinclair (c) Linda Davis-Sinclair For more details of the junkbots project go to:  http://junkbots.blogspot.co.uk/ If you would like to know more about the Junkbots project contact scott.turner@northampton.ac.uk

Videos and comments from the Robot Day at Hartwell Primary School can now be found at the following link   Robot Day! | Class4 2013 Quote from the page "The whole class had a fantistic time and really enjoyed the challenge."      For more information about the activities go to  http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/robots-in-hartwell.html

On 19th December 2013 the  junkbot project visited - Class 4 of Hartwell Primary School, Northamptonshire, UK. The session was split into two. The first part was building a drawing junkbot  from cans, small electric motors, broken propellers, wires, pencils, pens, and drinks cans. An example from a previous group is shown to the left. M ore details on the activities/session plans can be found at: on the junkbots project go to:  http://junkbots.blogspot.co.uk/   on the work developed and a case study can be found at:  http://www.hestem-sw.org.uk/project?id=16&pp=540  or    http://projects.hestem-sw.org.uk/upload/Junkbot_june_northampton.pdf  in-school session plan can be found at:  http://projects.hestem-sw.org.uk/upload/Planning_Process_junkbots_KS3_4_longer.docx STEM club session plan can be found at:  http://projects.hestem-sw.org.uk/upload/Planning_Process_junkbots_primary_short8.docx Robonova in ...

On the 30th April 2012 the junkbots project went to Wootton Primary's STEM club. The task was challenging to design and to build junkbots that can draw in less than 45 minutes...and they did. Great work and some engineers/technologists for the future. Thank you to Mrs Meadows and all the children of the STEM club for inviting me. If you would like to know more about the Junkbots project contact scott.turner@northampton.ac.uk

This week the junkbots idea were taken to South End Infant School, Rushden, Northamptonshire as part of their Science week....and it was good fun for me as well.  In three groups they played with: - The hovercraft idea that Hayley developed ( http://junkbots-hayleystevenson.blogspot.com/2011/08/hovercraft-do-i-need-motor.html ). Basically a balloon, CD and a sports bottle top, that floats across a table. - The basic junkbot - A drinks can, two markers, broken propeller, a motor and battery pack, - The new junkbot takes basic the junkbot and rearranges so it stands on the pen tips. Now add a third pen and we have a less elegant Picassobot . Start it up on some paper and (hopefully) watch it wriggle and draw. All this in one hour!

A collection of videos from Hayley Stevenson's junkbots work including insect-like robots And here is what it drew: Taken from:  http://junkbots-hayleystevenson.blogspot.com/2011_07_01_archive.html Taken from:  http://junkbots-hayleystevenson.blogspot.com/2011/08/day-9-fan-racer-comes-to-life.html Junkbots and lego robots combined:  taken from:  http://junkbots-hayleystevenson.blogspot.com/2011/08/day-18-my-last-day.html   Here is the video summarising her work: Taken from:  http://junkbots-hayleystevenson.blogspot.com/2011/08/update-video-montage.html

A Video montage of Hayley Stevenson's work on the Junkbots can be found at see  http://junkbots-hayleystevenson.blogspot.com .

Taken from the blog:  http://junkbots-hayleystevenson.blogspot.com/2011/07/day-4-design-and-paperwork.html PicassoBot Assembly Instructions for the PicassoBot  Using the template provided, cut out a BASEPLATE for your JunkBot. Place the template on the thick card, and cut out using a craft knife. Be careful not to cut anything that is under the card. Depending on the type of card, you made need to make 2 BASEPLATE’s and stick them together to increase the strength. If you wish, can now decorate your baseplate, but remember that the holes need to be accessible after decorations! Now you need to make the legs. Take 3 of your straws, and place then together, lengthways to make a thicker leg. The end of the straws should look like a triangle. Next, extend the straws to their fullest possible length, and bend the ridged part to make a 45degree angle. Once you have done this, secure the straws together using a strip of tape at the top of the straws. Now, look at the o...

A recent article in the Northampton Herald and Post " How a university is using waste as tool to inspire students " by Lawrence John discusses the Junkbots project.  " FUNNY looking robots called junkbots could be the key to encouraging more children across the county to become engineers, computer programmers or scientists. One force which is driving this idea forward is the University of Northampton. For the past few years, staff from its science and technology department have been going out to primary and secondary schools to spread the word that science is fun. By working with schools, the university hopes to show pupils a different side to computing and hopefully raise their interest in what they can achieve " Lawrence John For the whole article click here .

Ceisie2011 conf View more presentations from Scott Turner Abstract: The School of Science and Technology at the University of Northampton have been working with local schools to create robots made from junk and also to use robots programmed by the students to perform simple rubbish clearing exercises. This is an initiative by the University to introduce environmental sustainability, engineering and computing to students in schools. This paper focuses on the programming part of the project, providing reflections on the activities.

This is an interesting video I came across and fits with the Junk bot idea MAKE | How-To: Make a PopsicleBot 6-Legged Walker http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/07/how-to-make-a-popsiclebot-6-legged-walker.html

The junkbots project website is now available at: http://www.web-sustainablity.net/junkbots/ Mobile version at: http://mobile.web-sustainablity.net/site/junkbots/www.computing.northampton.ac.uk/_scott/Junkbots.html

The University of Northampton has recently recognised the work on the Junkbot project with an award for achievement for Volunteering at the Volunteering awards ceremony. More details can be found at: http://tunis.northampton.ac.uk/2011/06/09/staff-recognised-at-annual-volunteering-awards/

The funding may have unfortunately stopped but the activities continue. On 30th March the Junkbots activities return to Brooke Weston School . The students had to build a 'junkbot' from initially a motor and propeller and any 'junk' that was around. There were three tasks. 1. The junkbot had to get a can across a line. 2. Similar to the previous activity but this time as well as the can there was other junk (bottle tops and some small steel bits) away from the can. These also had to be transferred across the line. 3. To make the junkbots steerable. It was never the intention that all the tasks were achieved in the time, but the student's tried out their own groups ideas with little input from the tutors. Some very innovative results were produced. Thank you to Mr Nigel Barratt for inviting me back and supporting the activities. Teacher Mr Barrett said: ‘ The students just got on with it and devised the models themselves. They experimented all the w...

The funding for the junkbots project has now come to an end.So what were the outcomes. Figure 1Overall Results Figure 1 shows how the overall score for the whole project. Overall the student were satisfied/ok (around 3) or more than satisfied ( 4 or 5). There seems to be a linkage between the junkbot building exercises and the overall satisfaction ratings. Programming on the whole had slightly lower satisfaction scores but ok scores. Figure 2: Comparison of the overall event scores across the schools. Figure 2 shows scores for the overall project for each school. Overall as mentioned previous the response is very positive (all the results were 89% or higher 3,4, or 5 ratings). There were variations in the level of satisfaction. The school were students were selected the student's based on ability or interest tended to have satisfaction scores that were higher.Does this mean the approaches are more suited to the gifted and talented. Probably not as the satisfaction scores ...

Figure 1  The first half (waste management activities and turning junk into robots) on the junkbots project has been carried out at  Huxlow Science College  on 15th February 2011. Some interesting designs were produced for junkbots that could clear up a range of 'rubbish'. These included: - one based around a milk carton, wheels and propellor at the back that was very quick.It included a scoop at the front to sweep up rubbish as it went.(see figures 1 and 2). Figure 2  - one based around a bottle with legs that vibrated along. This one included a magnet at the back that could pick up small metal items(figure 3,4 and 5) Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 -A third one included a scoop that designed to scoop up the rubbish as it moved forward.