Robots and Physical Computing

Have you ever looked at a Virtual Reality (VR) headset and thought, "I wish I could build something for that," only to be scared off by the mention of complex game engines, expensive hardware, or high-level coding? The landscape of digital creation has changed. You no longer need a massive workstation or a background in computer science to build immersive worlds. If you can write a few lines of basic HTML, you have everything you need to become a VR developer. By using A-Frame , an open-source web framework, and the power of modern browsers, your "playtime" can turn into a gateway to the Metaverse. Why WebVR? WebVR (and its modern successor, WebXR) is built on a simple philosophy: accessibility . Unlike traditional VR apps that require massive downloads, WebVR experiences are just links. They work on your laptop, your smartphone, and high-end headsets like the Meta Quest or Apple Vision Pro. In this guide, we have collated a series of experiments—originally shared b...

How a drinks can, a small motor, and a cheap programmable controller can open a world of making, tinkering, and genuine engineering thinking — for kids and adults alike. Eggbot  There is something quietly radical about the Junkbot idea. It started not with a lesson plan or a product brief, but with a question: what can you actually make with the stuff lying around? Over nearly a decade of exploration, educator and maker Scott Turner refined a simple concept — a vibrating robot built from a drinks can, a small motor, and a handful of pens — into something that touches on environmental science, engineering, and computing all at once. This post is for the makers who like to build first and ask questions later, for parents who want to spark something in a curious kid on a weekend, and for educators looking to point people toward genuinely interesting projects. We are going to look at how you build one, and then think about where the idea can go next. Why junk? The word “junk” i...

Artificial Intelligence often feels like "magic" happening inside a powerful computer. But at its core, a neural network is just a series of mathematical decisions. In my previous posts, we looked at how to simulate these decisions in Python. Today, we are taking that "brain" out of the computer and building it in the real world using three BBC micro:bits . In this project, each micro:bit acts as a single neuron . By wiring them together, we create a physical network capable of logic and decision-making. The Math: How a Neuron "Thinks" Every neuron in our network follows a simple linear formula to decide whether or not to "fire" (send a signal): Figure 1 - the maths If the result Net  >=0  the neuron fires (Output = 1). If it’s less than 0, it stays at Output = 0. Step 1: The Logic Gate "Cheat Sheet" Before we flash the code, we need to decide what we want our neurons to do. By changing the weights and bias , we can turn a micro:bit...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere—recommending videos, recognising faces, and even helping cars drive themselves. But what actually powers these systems? At the heart of many AI systems is something called a neural network . And here’s the exciting part: you don’t need a supercomputer to explore one. 👉 In this challenge, you’ll build a working neural network using micro:bits —and see how AI works from the inside. 🔍 What Is a Neural Network? A neural network is a system made of connected “neurons” that pass information to each other. It’s usually organised into layers: Input layer → receives data Hidden layer → processes information Output layer → produces a result One important detail: the input layer doesn’t actually process anything —it just passes signals forward. If you want a deeper explanation, this post breaks it down clearly: 👉 https://robotsandphysicalcomputing.blogspot.com/2021/02/explaining-tinkercad-microbit-neural.html ⚡ Make It Physical with micro:bits Inst...