Junkbots

Raspberry Pi Junkbot - Home : A new website providing more information of the Raspberry Pi Junkbot project (combining Raspberry Pi, Scratch programming and junk). This will be added to as the  project develops. At the moment it includes - Introduction -Discussion about the robot controller card -ScratchGPIO - Example of the drawing bot. 'via Blog this'

During National Science and Engineering Week 2013, as part of the activities provided by the University of Northampton, the Junkbots project returned as part of programme of activities to South End Primary School, Rushden, northamptonshire, UK.  National Science and Engineering Week is annual event celebrating science and engineering activities ( http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/national-science-engineering-week ) Last year during the same week Junkbots also formed part of the activities (see  http://junkbots.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/junkbots-goes-south.html ). This time we worked with two classes - a year 2 and a year 5 class; building the drawing junkbot. Examples of previous drawing junkbots are shown above. Approximately 50 children took part across the two 45 minute activities. Essentially  a drawing junkbot is based around a drinks can that: - draw patterns without anyone touching it; -carried the battery pack or not depends on the age of...

Last Wednesday (11th June 2012) junkbots returned home. During the Inspiring Girls into Engineering event held at the School of Science and Technology, University of Northampton a junkbots session was held. Two groups of girls from two local primary schools built a drawing junkbots remarkably quickly (going to have to think of ways to extending it!) that - drew patterns without anyone touching it; -carried the battery pack (4 AA batteries) Details of the work developed and a case study can be found at:  http://www.hestem-sw.org.uk/project?id=16&pp=540 Details of the case study can be found at:  http://projects.hestem-sw.org.uk/upload/Junkbot_june_northampton.pdf Details of an in-school session plan can be found at:  http://projects.hestem-sw.org.uk/upload/Planning_Process_junkbots_KS3_4_longer.docx Details of an STEM club session plan can be found at:  http://projects.hestem-sw.org.uk/upload/Planning_Process_junkbots_primary_short8.docx If...

Junkbots on Prezi If you would like to know more about the Junkbots project contact scott.turner@northampton.ac.uk

Here is a junkbot my 7-year old son and I came up with at the weekend. A bit of fun - a junkbot that draws based on a bashed up drinks can, pens, straws, motor, broken fan and lots of tape! The last picture has some of the shapes the junkbots produced. If you would like to know more about the Junkbots project contact scott.turner@northampton.ac.uk

Friday 16th March 2012, the junkbots project moved to year 6 at Roade Primary School.  The aim was to Look in to how to use electric motors to make junk move, along with the effect of weight, surface contact effects and positioning of the weights. The task was to make something that could move along a table as quickly as possible. Good example is the 'sleigh' shown above, a mixture of straws, yoghurt pots, pens, plastics and electric motors. What was especially good about this one was - it went in a straight line, shaking its way along and even carried its batteries. This was especially good as usually these junkbots have a tendency to spin around. The group that developed this one investigated repositioning the batteries, thereby adjusting the weight to get it to travel in a straight line. Thank you to the year 6 at Roade Primary School for inviting me, lots of budding engineers there. If you want to know more about Junkbots please contact:  scott.turner@northampto...

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

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...

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.

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/