Workshops

Holiday workshops: Rapid robot development (ages 15–18)

Image credit: The Royal Institution

In this workshop with Perry Childs, students will experience the rapid development lifecycle of robotics by designing and building their own ‘Cardbot’ in just one day.

This fun-packed challenging day will teach students how to build their own self-controlled robot using the open source Arduino micro controller, an ultrasonic distance sensor, a light sensor, two motors, and a motor driver board.

As in industry, students will experience taking an initial idea through to delivery, using the ‘development lifecycle’ approach. They will learn how to build and upload simple logic programmes to bring their creations to life.

Throughout the day students will have a series of tasks to complete so that they can demonstrate their new-found robotic skills. Working in teams to complete the day’s tasks they will then discover which team has built the best-performing robot.

This workshop is strictly for 15–18 year-olds and will include a 30 minute lunch break, during which students will be allowed to leave the Ri building. Students should bring lunch and a drink. We reserve the right to refund or deny entry to those who are not in this age range. 

Please note that closed toe shoes must be worn as this workshop takes place in our lab. 

Refunds can only be issued for tickets cancelled at least two weeks (14 calendar days) in advance of the event date. Please note that this supersedes our normal event terms and conditions. Please also note that Eventbrite adds a small booking fee to the amount paid for each ticket option.

About Perry Childs

Perry Childs graduated with a degree in electronics, computer and systems engineering and started a career in developing advanced communication equipment for the fledgling Internet revolution.

Perry is still excited working with new technologies and always has been fascinated with robotics even when his was a kid. He really wants to excite young people that this in a great subject to bring engineering, micro-electronics, computer science and creative thinking together.

About our workshops

Holiday workshops at the Royal Institution give students a hands-on experience of STEM topics (science, technology, engineering, maths) beyond what they learn at school. Working in groups or pairs, students will get hands-on to complete activities, challenges or projects which help them look deeper at the subject they are exploring. These workshops don’t follow the school curriculum but instead show students the many real world uses of STEM topics, expanding their horizons beyond the classroom to see the amazing possibilities science can give you. Sessions are led by experts from across industry and academia who will share with the students their excitement and knowledge of their areas of expertise.

For any queries regarding this workshop please email events@ri.ac.uk.

Support to attend holiday workshops

The Potential Trust may be able to offer financial assistance to enable children to participate in Ri events and activities if this would otherwise be financially difficult. Please contact Denise Yates, or at their new email address here

 

 

Covid guidelines

Face masks are no longer mandatory and wearing one in our Theatre and at other Ri events is at your discretion, however please do not attend the Ri if you are displaying Covid symptoms or, if you have tested, the result remains positive. Thank you for respecting other people and their choices, and for helping us keep all of our visitors and staff safe and well.

Event terms and conditions