Junkbots

Junkbots ( http://junkbots.blogspot.co.uk/ ) are based around using  materials such as drink's cans, broken propellors and motors to produce something that moves by vibration. Previous designs be found at: Raspberry Pi Controlled Junkbots Junkbots blog The latest tweak to the Raspberry Pi based Junkbot design is to use the combination of Python and Pimoroni's  Explorer HAT PRO  to control it. Explorer HAT Pro is a good choice, it can control two motors with a library provided to simplify the programming. For this the Junkbot was the one shown above: a drinks can, pen, LEGO bits, motor and broken propellor. Before the Explorer HAT can be used the library needs to be installed via the Terminal and the instructions below curl get.pimoroni.com/explorerhat | bash Python code to control the junkbot is shown below. import explorerhat from time import sleep def spin1(duration):     explorerhat.motor.one.forward(100)     sleep(durati...

Mark Tilden : l'homme qui sort des robots de son chapeau - H+ Magazine : "Mark Tilden est le roboticien au chapeau, l’homme aux 20 millions de robots qui a écrit ses 3 lois de la robotique, l’initiateur d’un courant de pensée avec ses BEAMS. Un homme dont la pensée et l’œuvre foisonnent d’idées nouvelles." https://humanoides.fr/2015/11/mark-tilden-lhomme-sort-robots-de-chapeau/ 'via Blog this' All opinions in this blog are the Author's and should not in any way be seen as reflecting the views of any organisation the Author has any association with.

The School of Science and Technology at the University of Northampton have been working with local schools to create robots made from junk. This is an initiative by the University to introduce environmental sustainability, engineering and computing to students and has been funded by Northampton Enterprise Limited and east midlands development agency (emda).  For more details: 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 This and other posters at Engage 2013 can be...

Copyright Scott turner The aim of the project is to give students in Primary Education an introduction to programming principles and basic programming language structure via physical feedback, in the shape of robotics. To do this, research and development into available methods currently available toke place, possibilities to do with JunkBot programming such as JunkBots using Scratch and other potential languages were explored and developed upon. History of JunkBots The JunkBot concept originally comes from the University of Northampton JunkBots Project [1]. The aim of the concept is to introduce the concept of Environmental Sustainability through the use of recycling “junk” to create the JunkBots and introduce computing and engineering to students. JunkBots were selected for this project due to several factors. Firstly, they are cost effective ways of delivering fun, creative ways of teaching computing and engineering principles to young students. JunkBots also have...

A recent presentation as part of the Department of Computing and Immersive Technologies, University of Northampton Research Seminar series, looking a on going project within the Department. Junkbots has been a ongoing and ever evolving project since 2009 around the use of 'junk' as part of activities to developing skills in STEM subjects. In particular in the presentation (below) shows the links between these activities and Computational Thinking were discussed. Junkbots and computational thinking   from  Scott Turner If you'd like to find out more about Computing at the University of Northampton go to: www.computing.northampton.ac.uk. All views and opinions are the author's and do not necessarily reflected those of any organisation they are associated with If you would like to know more about the Junkbots project contact scott.turner@northampton.ac.uk

Details of the Raspberry Pi Junkbot are now available as resource on the Computing at Schools site. Link:  http://community.computingatschool.org.uk/resources/3390 If you would like to know more about the Junkbots project contact scott.turner@northampton.ac.uk

New landmark in the junkbots project - junkbots delivered by someone else. @STEMatUN Junkbots Challenge at the Discovering Science Day, which do you think was the fastest? pic.twitter.com/Dg7SisTSas — NevaBeast (@NevaBeast) March 25, 2015 For more details: 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 This and other posters at Engage 2013 can be found at:  https://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/engage2013/poster-party If you would like to know more about t...