Blog posted by Arjun M (Class 9, Christ Nagar International School)

Ever heard of Big Dog? Maybe not. You must know Amazon’s Alexa though, right? You may wonder what they, and many other such recent inventions may have in common. Let me run you through the detailed and interesting robotics workshop held by MyRobo, an organisation that conducts training sessions at different venues for robotics and related subjects. Check out www.myrobo.co.in for more information on them.

Kinds of robots

There are various kinds of robots, each suited to aid us in a different way. A basic introduction was given on the major categories. Some short videos were shown on the different kinds and their functioning. Some examples that were touched are:
Man labour substitutes (at factories, construction sites, etc.),
Domestic help (cleaners like Roomba & Braava and cooks like Moley),
Security (Big Dog; small, but stays upright on impact and can be armed),
et cetera.

Interactive

The session saw all the active and bright children being given a chance to answer and share their knowledge with the others. They were very active participants, and the facilitators listened patiently and were ready to correct or add on to their points. The videos shown were also interesting and the children took home lots of new
information. The discussions held were vital to the session and allowed a lot more to be absorbed than just the direct information from the data presented.

Hands on

The session had a surprise at the end, where the kids got to build their own robots. After showing them some robots they had brought with them and how they worked, the kids were free to make their own robot, after being split into teams. The only available materials were paper cups, sketch pens, tape, a motor and a cell. Creativity took over
as the kids decorated their cups exquisitely using the sketch pens, and then used them as legs to support the robot. It was called a Wiggle Bot. Later, each team assembled a robot on wheels that used a remote control, using which the kids later enjoyed on the platform. The teams competed using them to see which bot would be the last one standing. It was utter chaos however, as the RJ-45 cables used to control the bots got all tangled up! The
kids would have loved to take them home, I bet. Overall, the session was a fruitful one, with plenty for the kids to take home, including the memory of this fun and informative session. A repeat of the immensely positive response to this session would truly justify the popularity and interest of the modern generation in robotics and artificial intelligence.

– Arjun M
Class 9
Christ Nagar International School