Michael has details for a Taranaki-wide Robotics Competition...

• Racing bots (fastest on a straight track)
• aMazing bots (fastest through a maze)
• Colony bots (robots that interact exhibiting life-like behaviours)
• Walking bots (robots that must not use wheels)
• Budget bots (under $50 but with the as many abilities as possible)
• Spy bots (must be able to collect and transmit data)
• Celebrity bots (best mock-up of a famous robot from TV or film...more Daleks!?)

2008 Daily News,April 30. "Shining a light on the future "

2007 Ministry of Education Press Release, October 10 "Innovative teachers to explore new technology horizons"

2007 Daily News, June 4 "Teacher's invention makes a lot of sensor" - RIGEL system main feature in the Breakthroughs section

2005 Daily News, August 18 "Timeless Robot" - Bell Block School pupils get a visit from a Dalek!

2005 Daily News, June 4 "Robots inspiring young engineers" - Mike's Cybot as example of cross discipline co-operation to run novel courses for school students.

Robot Plans

Way back in 1998, when only a Year 10 (Form Four) student, NRG student Jared Broad designed ALIS....a modern day version of the famous Lost in Space B9 robot. Download his plans and background report...see the thinking and planning that goes into building ANY robot...(in Plans in PDF format). Nowadays Jared has a degree in Biophysics and combines Computing, Electronics and Biology expertise to carry out ground-breaking research...

"Robotics is a use of a wide range of technologies. In order to build a robot you must also build power supplies, motors and gears for motion, sensors and if wanted design Artificial Intelligence.

The term robot originates from the Czech word robota, meaning "compulsory labour." It was first used in the 1921 play R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots) by the Czech novelist and playwright Karel Capek. The word robot has been used since to refer to a machine that performs work to assist people or work that humans find difficult or undesirable. The concept of automated machines dates to antiquity with myths of mechanical beings brought to life. Automata, or manlike machines, also appeared in the clockwork figures of medieval churches, and 18th-century watchmakers were famous for their clever mechanical creatures. The robots that you and I know today have only been around for the last 30 years"

Taken from Jared Broad's ALIS report, 1998.

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The New Adventures of Cybot Bob!

The students of the Inglewood High School Physics Department have adopted Bob, the Cybot robot.

After a rough day at Inglewood High School, Cybot Bob decides it is time for a quick bath. Here Cybot Bob waits for Stingray to destroy any Terror Fish lurking in the bathwater... Using his IR link to surf the web, Cybot Bob visits Real Robots Cybot Builder Cybot Central Mighty Mouse Cybot's PICAXE cousin

The Year 12 and Year 13 students have enjoyed being followed around the school hall and classroom by Cybot Bob. He uses ultrasound to "see" in a similar manner to the way bats use echo location to avoid obstacles. Cybot Bob can use his light sensors to follow a clearly marked line drawn on the ground. Unfortunately Cybot Bob follows a snail trail up a tree and has to be rescued by Mikaela. Watch out Bob, Mighty Mouse can do the same and can even evolve into a Cyber Spider!

Inglewood High School robotics team 2003

Can we build a Terminator? READ MORE HERE...