This year the Computing team has been fortunate enough to host three Nuffield Research Placement students ( https://www.nuffieldresearchplacements.org/ ) all working with Dr Scott Turner. Michael Welsh Michael has been working on using a micro:bit based bitbot from 4tronix to produce a potential teaching tool; an example of artificial neurons used control a robot. The aim is for this tool to be used with 3rd-year Undergraduates, as part of a module on Artificial Intelligence. Michael's solution was to use the computer to run and train a single neuron; then for the robot to send values from the line sensors back to the program running on a Computer and receive control signals. Sounds easy? No really, in the end, the software running on the computer had to also send and receive the data through a microbit (via USB) and then use radio to communicate with the bit:bot robot. All the various developed part...
Robots and getting computers to work with the physical world is fun; this blog looks at my own personal experimenting and building in this area.