Excited to begin testing of the new Freenove Raspberry Pi robots. Although they will need extra functionality added to become RaceHub robots (such as RGB lighting strips / dot matrix diplays) - the signs are that their manoeuvrability is similar to the Micro:Bit powered units - which makes them thoroughly race ready!
The RaceHub Sessions are taking shape, not necessarily in order! Enjoyed exploring Session 5 with the KS3 SoS group today.They had so much fun, but in the process were also super-helpful at showing me potential road-blocks in the planning - which I am racing to fine tune now!
https://youtu.be/lXlbkDVjQ50 RaceHub is the new robotics project that I have been working on for some time now. It is a sister project to Robotics Link. Together they will form the RaceNode Network.RaceHub will come first: individual young people being provided with a robot to build, and to keep, with which they can join in to a supportive network and even enter into robot racing…
https://youtu.be/vI5zpmUtpmE We were delighted to welcome Phoebe and Andrew from Youth Music to our Marvellous Musical Machine session at Ridgeway ASC today. For further information about what the second cohort have been achieving please see: www.flickernet.net/mmm2
https://youtu.be/GSGv8L2K0ew The Year 11 SoS pupils have taught me so much over the last three terms - in particular they have reminded me that all learning starts with engagement. It seems clear to me that when a young person is engaged with what you are offering them, then are they ready to learn. Robotics and project-based learning feels like a natural fit - these children respond…
Partly as a practice race for the upcoming Robotics Link project, but mainly so that pupils could have an event to film for their Video Editing Computing unit (and also for fun!) - we held a robot race today.Pre and post-race interviews were filmed from multiple camera angles so that they can be cut with action footage of the race action. It was encouraging to…
Click here to find out about the June 2025 Brooklands Primary School visits
Next week one primary school in Northern Ireland will be building, then testing, an outdoor robot in the woodland..Cue some disassembly prep!https://youtu.be/hCA6JNuUY00https://www.flickernet.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Outdoor_Robot.mp4
The Transmission Zone is a general purpose broadcast area for remotely monitored experiments that need a bit more space. Central to the space is a young oak tree that is awaiting having a squirrel feeder attached to it. This will be provided by John Francis, who manages the red squirrel population in Mourne Park.In front of this is taking shape an area for the outdoor…
The first Robot Racing Club Inter-schools Tournament will be taking place within a few weeks. A total of sixteen robots are revving their motors in anticipation!
The inter-school Robot Racing challenge is hotting up! With both Bishopstone and St Mary's Primary schools fielding teams of robots that increasingly move in the right direction - the moment is fast approaching for Race Day! For updates on team progress, please see www.flickernet.net/rrc To liven up the arena, we have been developing claw-bots that will chomp at unsuspecting robots as they pass!
Now that we have got our robots avoiding obstacles - will they be able to escape ClawBot?! Follow the latest Bishopstone RRC developments at www.flickernet.net/bishy
Delighted to announce the start of RRC -with the ever-wonderful St Mary's Primary School! We are currently exploring which kit works best, and hoping to develop this new club in support of neurodivergent pupils soon. Thank you to Colm and the team for providing every opportunity to explore new technologies with his wonderful class - from Unity-built gaming to the upcoming WatchBox - these…
http://www.flickernet.net/crumble Enjoying exploring Crumble equipment at Bridlewood Primary and with the ARC. Have built Marge to demonstrate the ultra-sonics in action. Credit to @philwickins for inspiring the concept. Have put together a page with Crumble links that might be helpful.
All three of the ARC entries are gathering momentum. There is just one month left before the closing date of this year's competition - which equates to four hours for us! Although only one entry (The Thermal Imaging project) could actually be described as a "robot", it has been wonderful to see each team applying their coding, construction, and debugging skills in earnest. http://www.flickernet.net/arc2
Christmas fun at ARC when we set our Kitronik Move Motor robots to race each other along a winding track around the classroom! Some pupils kept it simple - follow the line - others included their ultrasonics and yet others played Christmas carols en route! With a large chocolate first prize and spot prizes for best dressed robot - there was every incentive to…
Thank you to Stuart and the team at BCS for a most interesting day exploring the new BCS Level 1 qualification at BCS HQ. The twelve of us present were taken through the materials and provided with ample time to explore what delivery of this new certification will look like. As LPA are one of the first schools to offer this (through the STEM…
ARC have created a gas-detecting patrol robot for the PA Competition - it really needs a name now.. Gasbot 3000 ?! https://www.flickernet.net/pacomp
the ARC demo robot has three functioning brains, two (Pi) on WiFi and one on Bluetooth but has not yet rumbled out of the door.. Sensor readings are rather erratic and the head-mounted servo obeys no known code. On the plus side Motors coping with the combined weight and Meccano providing a strong exoskeleton. Also the camera works! More details here: https://www.flickernet.net/zjeremy
The Advanced Robotics Club began today: so many competitions to choose from, and a talented team of enthusiastic pupils who knew exactly how to assemble the new kit! https://www.flickernet.net/arc
Aided by a batch of pre-loved Meccano, the ARC demonstration robot has got a form, of sorts!
The first parts have begun arriving for the new robot. This is an air quality sensor.. Details are here
Enjoying the BitBot XL - full review for teachers here: www.flickernet.net/robot
After a little father and son time, the latest iteration of the Garage Robot is born! Upon being shared as the designated show-and-tell item, the spinning motor jams on, resulting in a scene of suitable chaos in the classroom with the robot determinedly making the most of its chance to take a turn at the front!
'Exploration' of the playground beamed into the classroom via Skype The weather on Mars in real-time Space as a natural fit for tech ventures
This is Prince Hal. Originally a Christmas Present (c1989) he was infra red controlled with the ability to follow a sequence of instructions sent to him from a television-remote style controller. Then, for no apparent reason, he ceased working . I gutted him and replaced the circuitry with that from a radio controlled car and a walkie talkie headset unit. Also a radio doorbell.…