Robotics Engineer - Research and Development - Fun Activities

Research and Development - ROBOTICS ENGINEER

Following on from Bumblebee [Transformers] - create a new Character & Plot

Primary Middle Secondary

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Personal and social capability

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Literacy

Cooperative Learning Activity

1. Paramount Pictures is in the process of creating yet another Transformers movie but continuing with the main character as Bumblebee from their 2018 film (and their 2021 film - in production).

In a group of 3 - 4 students, you are to recap by reading the following "Plot" from Transformers Wiki and watch the following two trailers. Video Take notes and make a mindmap of what has happened so far.

All Optimus Prime Scenes - Bumblebee (2018) Movie
https://youtu.be/aL1G6hGLE50

Bumblebee (2018) - New Official Trailer - Paramount Pictures
https://youtu.be/lcwmDAYt22k

2. You are to create a new plot and setting for Bumblebee 2 or 3. This time there will be both female and male autobots but you will create the new storyline [plot] and a new side kick for Bumblebee - another autobot.

Decide:

a. The name of the new character; and its code name; the gender; and, the hopefully Australian voice actor to play this new character. You will also need to decide on its character - brave? reckless? curious? etc.

b. The car or other technology it transforms into - make, colour, details

c. The town you live in will be the setting but you will need to work out the main scenes and where the movie will take place

d. . The plot

e. Bumblebee's voice processor is now fixed, decide on the Australian voice actor to play Bumblebee

3. Two students are to use one Storyboard app to create the plot. Confer with the other students in your group. You need to reach consensus as a group.

4. The other two students are to decide on the car or other technology and draw this new side kick. Confer with the other students in your group. You need to reach consensus as a group.

5. Together use one of the Cartoon/Comic/Animation/Video Creation apps listed here to create one scene.

6. Show to the rest of the class.

7. Reflection

Reflection.

What have you learnt about yourself and your skills during this process?

Build Your Own Robot Arm (developed by Try Engineering.org)

Primary Middle Secondary

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking
Australian Curriculum General Capability: Personal and social capability

Cooperative Learning Activity

Teacher

Lesson at Try Engineering

Local Copy: Full Lesson Plan (PDF)

Local Copy: Student Worksheet (Word)

Students design and build a working robotic arm from a set of everyday items with a goal of having the arm be able to pick up a Styrofoam cup. Working in teams of three or four students, the students explore effective teamwork skills while learning simple robot mechanics.

Robot Arm Lesson Plan Overview
https://youtu.be/e3cAcV6WE9k

Modelling the Human Hand (developed by Ben Rerden, Ambrose Treacy College, Qld)

Middle Secondary

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking

Modelling the human hand is a 6-week lesson series for Year 9 students investigating the structure of the human hand and understanding how this structure enables movement.

Comprehensive lesson at CSIRO, Modelling the human hand [PDF]

Modelling Hand

Music by Robots: As good as Humans?

Primary Middle Secondary

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Numeracy

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Personal and social capability

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking

Philosophy

Cooperative Learning Activity

1. You with 3 other students are going to listen to the following program - ABC Big Ideas "Music by Robots" [54mins] with the following speakers Listen

Toby Walsh – Scientia Professor of Artificial Intelligence, University of New South Wales

Justin Shave – Head Composer/Sonic Technologist, Uncanny Valley

Charlton Hill - Head of Music & Innovation, Uncanny Valley

2. List the facts, figures and history. Compare notes and combine all your notes.

3. What did you think about the Bach challenge? Did you get it right?

4. Power Words

What does the word "augment" mean?

5. Discussion

Discuss:

"Is music created by IA [Robots] as good as humans? Why? Why not?"

New things.... A Research & Presentation Assignment

Secondary

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Literacy

Australian Curriculum General Capability: ICT Capability

Cooperative Learning Activity

1. In groups of 3 - 4 students, you are going to research and then create a presentation on the future of robotics. Use the Expert Jigsaw Strategy to do your research.

Jigsaw Strategy

2. Each student is to read only ONE of the following articles, note down the facts and figures, power words and any images. Form an expert group from all students who have read your particular article. Report back to your home group.

The Conversation 23 April 2020 Reading