Leamington Spa, UK – 29th July 2010 – From 26th to 29th July, thirty students, aged 15 to 17 from across the UK attended a four-day residential course at Staffordshire University. Here they were introduced to the role of robotics in engineering, looking at how they work, the roles they will be called upon to perform in the future as well as the advanced computer software that drives them.
Under the guidance of experts, students took part in activities including communicating with robots using computer programmes, participating in laboratory sessions about artificial intelligence and text-to-speech synthesis and learning how some robots can communicate with humans using speech. Using the knowledge they had recently gained, they then built their own robot which had to perform certain tasks when competing in the robot olympics.
Throughout the course, students also developed life skills such as teamwork, communication, problem solving and time management. Social activities included a film evening and a sports night. On the final night, a conference style dinner and disco, took place where students and supervisors had the opportunity to socialise and share their experiences of the week.
Spokesperson Claire Fisher from The Smallpeice Trust commented, “We are grateful to Staffordshire University for their generous sponsorship, enabling us to run this facinating course. The students creative thinking and problem solving skills have been put to the test as they tackled the programming of robots to perform a variety of tasks. The lectures on the course provided students with a firm grounding of the diversity of robotics, whilst giving them a flavour of university life.”
Spokesperson Gordon Bancroft from Staffordshire University commented, “I believe the students got a lot out of the course. They developed the skills to programme a robot to carry out a variety of functions, as well as visiting a local company to view the use of robots in a manufacturing situation. I am sure the students are now in a much better position to make clear and sensible career choices”.
The Robotic Engineering course is run by the independent educational charity, The Smallpeice Trust, as part of an ongoing programme of residential courses to help young people aged 13 to 18 learn and develop skills in engineering, design, technology and manufacturing. Through running residential courses and STEM enrichment days, The Trust has reached out to 15,630 students across the UK in the past year.
The new course timetable for 2011 will be launched in September. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis. To find out more, visit www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk, or telephone The Smallpeice Trust on 01926 333200.
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About The Smallpeice Trust:
The Smallpeice Trust is an independent charitable trust which promotes engineering as a career, primarily through the provision of residential courses for young people aged 13 to 18.
The Smallpeice Trust was founded in 1966 by Dr Cosby Smallpeice, a pioneering engineer and inventor of the Smallpeice Lathe. Following the stock market flotation of his company Martonair, Dr Smallpeice invested his energy and part of his personal fortune to set up the Trust to ensure that British industry could continuously benefit from his proven design and engineering philosophies: “Simplicity in design, economy in production.”
The Trust is now governed by an eminent board of non-executive trustees and members from a diverse range of engineering, industry, educational and professional bodies. Over the past year, The Smallpeice Trust has reached out to around 16,000 young people through 32 different subsidised 4-day residential courses and 1-day in-school curriculum enrichment masterclasses.
For more information, visit www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk.
Contacts:
Gemma Murphy
Head of Marketing and Development
Tel: 01926 333214
Fax: 01926 333202
Email: [email protected]
Claire Ford
Marketing Support Officer
Tel: 01926 333203
Fax: 01926 333202
Email: [email protected]
The Smallpeice Trust is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England. Company number 00882371. Registered office, Holly House, 74 Upper Holly Walk, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 4JL. Registered Charity number 313719.
