Robots and Physical Computing

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...

Guest Blogger Hiren Mistry, Nuffield Research Placement Student working at the University of Northampton. Nuffield Research Placement scheme provides students in their first year of a post16 course to work with STEM professionals  http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/nuffield-research-placements . How to use Minecraft to move a USB Robot Arm on a Raspberry Pi By Hiren Mistry Currently, I am taking part in a Nuffield Foundation Research Placement at the University of Northampton, researching how to control a CBIS Robot Arm using a Raspberry Pi. This part of the project aims to learn more about using Python in Minecraft and how I can control the Robot Arm using Minecraft. When the player hits a specific block, the Robot Arm will move in a specific way. Minecraft is an adventure game where players are put in a randomly-generated world and can create their own structures and contraptions out of textured cubes. Here are the main commands used in Python for Minecraft Pi: ...