Lego Rovers Evolution
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Liverpool
Department Name: Computer Science
Abstract
The aims of this Lego Rovers Evolution project are to: raise awareness of current research on autonomous systems in the UK (specifically that taking place at the University of Liverpool, in collaboration with worldwide experts); inform secondary school children about the challenges involved in creating autonomous systems; and to enthuse them about robotics, computer science, programming and engineering.
We intend to achieve these by developing a hands-on activity aimed at children in Key Stages 2-4 which will provide an ongoing resource for use by the organisations involved in the project, and will be available on the Internet in a form suitable for schools, parents and anyone else with an appropriate Lego Mindstorms Robot to download and use.
We intend to achieve these by developing a hands-on activity aimed at children in Key Stages 2-4 which will provide an ongoing resource for use by the organisations involved in the project, and will be available on the Internet in a form suitable for schools, parents and anyone else with an appropriate Lego Mindstorms Robot to download and use.
Planned Impact
The Centre for Autonomous Systems Technology (CAST) at Liverpool is already active in promoting the Lego Rover activity via the STEM Ambassador scheme. The scheme provides a number of opportunities for sharing information about activities and resources with other ambassadors and with teachers, as well as linking ambassadors directly with schools. The activity will also feature in a training video being developed by the STEM Ambassador scheme.
Our participation in science fairs, festivals and open days, will provide a good opportunity to inform the general public about the downloadable resources that support the activity. We will ensure therefore that suitable material in the form of posters and leaflets are produced so that people encountering the activity at festivals, and networking events, can be directed to websites where it is available for download.
Our participation in science fairs, festivals and open days, will provide a good opportunity to inform the general public about the downloadable resources that support the activity. We will ensure therefore that suitable material in the form of posters and leaflets are produced so that people encountering the activity at festivals, and networking events, can be directed to websites where it is available for download.
Organisations
Publications
| Description | This was not a research grant but a public engagement award. We have successfully developed an activity focussing on space science, artificial intelligence and robotics that can be used both in classroom and drop-in stand settings. All the software that supports the activity together with worksheets, manuals and lesson plans has been made available via the project website. The activity has been extensively used in both schools and at events at museums. |
| Exploitation Route | Our resources have been made available for use by parents and teachers via our website. All the associated software is open source allowing people to further develop the activity to target other age groups, settings or related topics, if they so wish. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education |
| URL | http://legorovers.csc.liv.ac.uk |
| Description | The software developed by this project has been used in schools visits and in events at museums and science festivals to communicate ideas about artificial intelligence and space science. The audience has primarily been children in key stages 2 and 3, but parents and teachers have also been involved. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
| Sector | Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Title | Lego Dinos |
| Description | A set of Java classes for a public understanding activity to demonstrate the principles of artificial intelligence programming of robotic systems. This software was used at Cheltenham Science Festival 2015 in the DinoZone and so is themed around Lego Robot Dinosaurs. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2015 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | The software has yet to be demonstrated to the public, though it has been discussed on the leJOS forums for the operating system being used on the robots. |
| URL | https://github.com/legorovers/LegoDinos |
| Title | Lego Rovers |
| Description | Two Android applications supporting the Lego Rovers activity, together with Parent/Teacher Handbooks, Lego Robot build instructions and an Activity Workbook. One application for the LEGO EV3 Home Set and one for the LEGO EV3 Education Set. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | Applications are used in schools and museum events in the North West. |
| URL | http://legorovers.csc.liv.ac.uk/download.html |
| Description | Blast Off! World Museum (Liverpool) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | World Museum reported it was very happy with the event and the amount of media interest. They report that much of the feedback particularly mentioned the Lego Rovers. Some media interest generated but unclear if this will lead to anything. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Computing at School Regional Conference in Manchester |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Discussed and demonstrated the Lego Rover activity to a number of teachers, telling them about the resources available to support it. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Cosmic Classroom |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The event was a stand presenting Lego Mars Rovers as a supporting activity to a live link-up for schools with Tim Peake at the World Museum in Liverpool. The link-up was widely reported in the press and schools attended from across the country. Lots of questions from both children and teachers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2016/02/03/58816/ |
| Description | Dangerous Science Summer School (Lego Rovers) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A lego robot programming workshop run as part of the University of Liverpool's "Dangerous Science" summer school targetted at regional teenagers and part of the university's widening participation agenda. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Daresbury Labs Open Week Family Open Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A stand at the Daresbury Labs open day. 268 people, primarily children but also parents engaged with the robots, experimenting with programming using sensors and also discussing issues surrounding autonomous systems with the stand staff. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Destination:Space (World Museum, Liverpool) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Activity engaged the interest of many children. Awaiting Feedback from World Museum |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | EU Robotics Week at Victoria Gallery and Museum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Manned a stand at the Victoria Gallery and Museum in conjunction with EU Robotics week. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | International Day of the Girl and the Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This event was organised by the STEM Ambassador team based at the Museum of Science and Industry and involved a number of stands each with a STEM activity. Groups of Girl Guides moved around each stand spending approximately 10 minutes at each. Members of the general public also visited the stands. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Lego Robot Dinosaurs (Cheltenham Science Festival) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Children were enthusiastic about the Lego Robots. Some discussion with parents and teachers about autonomous systems. We distributed a lot of leaflets and postcards about our research, as well as a good many cards detailing our programme of school visits. The STFC reported that feedback was positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Lego Rover Stand (Space Dome, Cheltenham Science Festival) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We ran a drop-in stand as part of the RCUK funded "Space Dome" at Cheltenham Science. Children were very engaged by the activity, several returning on subsequent days to experiment further with the robots. Meanwhile adults asked many questions about the research underpinning the activity. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Lego Rovers Workshops at FACT |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This was a series of four workshops as part of a Science Week event organised by FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology). 80 school pupils in years 7 and 8 attended and engaged with the activity in a lively fashion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.csc.liv.ac.uk/~lad/legorovers |
| Description | Lego Rovers a Great Hollingworth Academy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A workshop on Mars Rovers and AI Programming was delivered to a 5 classes as part of a Year 9 enrichment day. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Lego Rovers at Bridgewater High School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Delivered a session to the Year 7 STEM club. According to the teacher "the pupils enjoyed playing with the robots. they really enjoyed the programing." |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Lego Rovers at Cheadle Hulme High School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Delivered a workshop to a lunch club and discussed the development of Python Robotics workshop with teacher. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://legorovers.liverpool.ac.uk |
| Description | Lego Rovers at Cheadle Hulme High School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Lego Rover workshop for Year 7 at Cheadle Hulme High School. As a follow up from the workshop discussed extending the activity for Key Stage 4 and integrating with the school's teaching of the national curriculum. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.csc.liv.ac.uk/~lad/legorovers |
| Description | Lego Rovers at Childwall C of E Primary |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Sixty Children in year 5 worked with the Lego robots. Lots of interesting questions afterwards, including discussion of careers. Feedback from the teachers mentioned that "Many of the children commented on the fact that they did not realise there are such interesting careers they can aspire to have in the future, this knowledge has really helped to motivate and encourage their learning and has demonstrated the place mathematics has in the wider world. " |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Lego Rovers at Christchurch C of E Primary, Oldham |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Delivered two sessions to children in Key Stage 1 at Christchurch C of E, Oldham as part of their Space topic. Children reported enthusiasm for robots, following the session and couched their discussion using terms used during delivery of the activity. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Lego Rovers at Fazakerly High School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Delivered a workshop to Year 9. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://legorovers.liverpool.ac.uk |
| Description | Lego Rovers at Great Ashton STEM Academy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A workshop on Mars Rovers and AI Programming was delivered to a STEM Club. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://legorovers.csc.liv.ac.uk |
| Description | Lego Rovers at Green Park School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Delivered the activity to the school "iTechno" club. The children were very excited and asked lots of questions afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Lego Rovers at Hatton Hill Primary |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Four sessions run with both year 4 and year 5 children resulted in lively Q&A sessions afterwards and interest from the teachers in acquiring their own robots. "As soon as the children walked into the classroom, they were instantly captivated by the LEGO Rovers on each of the tables. The children showed a real passion for everything about robots and demonstrated a good understanding already asking some relevant questions to Dr Dennis straight away. It was excellent that the children had such a hands on practical lesson and were so pleased when Dr Dennis spoke about the the use of robots on the moon and Mars. The Q and A at the end of the session and the children's enthusiasm was clearly evident. We would definitely recommend Dr Dennis visiting your school for a brilliant up to the minute opportunity to learn in this area of an ever changing computing school curriculum." - James McCloughlin, Year 4 teacher. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Lego Rovers at Manchester Communication Academy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 54 children from year 7, with a focus on Computing Groups participated in the Lego Rover workshop. There was a great deal of enthusiasm and the children asked good questions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Lego Rovers at New Charter Academy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 7 children at a STEM club participated in a Lego Robot workshop. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://legorovers.csc.liv.ac.uk |
| Description | Lego Rovers at Parrs Wood High School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A robotics based workshop for Year 9 girls in the top set for computing. From the teacher: "I spoke to some of the girls this morning and they felt that they could see how robotics were used in space by attending the workshop. It also gave them an insight into computing such as how selection is used in robotics." |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.csc.liv.ac.uk/~lad/legorovers |
| Description | Lego Rovers at Priestnall School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Lego Rover workshop for a STEM club of mixed Y7 and Y8 pupils. Two teachers in attendance. Was asked if we could return with the activity next year. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.csc.liv.ac.uk/~lad/legorovers |
| Description | Lego Rovers at St. Cuthbert's Oldham |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Activity sparked lively Q&A session after it closed. Pending |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Lego Rovers at St. Cuthberts (Years 8 & 9) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A Lego Rover workshop at St. Cuthbert's School in Oldham. Teachers and Governors were also present for the workshop which supported the school's STEM club scheme. We've been invited to return next year. The school is in a deprived area and is struggling to widen the aspirations of its pupils, the STEM club is considered an important part of this work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Lego Rovers at St. Hilda's Primary |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A workshop on Mars Rovers and AI Programming was delivered to a class of Primary School children. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://legorovers.csc.liv.ac.uk |
| Description | Lego Rovers at St. Joseph's Primary |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Delivered a workshop to a class of 30 primary school children. Interesting questions asked afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://legorovers.csc.liv.ac.uk |
| Description | Lego Rovers at St. Joseph's Primary Oldham |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Activity sparked a lively Q&A session when it was finished. The school reported that "The children thoroughly enjoyed it and were buzzing all day!" ... "Your visit was a kick start to our Robots topic. The children have already written a blog on the school website about the visit... Your visit has added to the children's enthusiasm and enhanced the topic greatly." |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Lego Rovers at St. Mary's Crosby |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A workshop on Mars Rovers and AI Programming was delivered to two classes of Primary School children. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Lego Rovers at St. Mary's, C of E |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Delivered two sessions to children in Key Stage 2 at St Mary's C of E. The children asked many interesting questions after the session. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Lego Rovers at Ursuline Primary |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A workshop on Mars Rovers was delivered to a class of Primary School children. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://legorovers.csc.liv.ac.uk |
| Description | Lego Rovers at Writing on the Wall |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A workshop ranging over robots in science fiction, robots in the future with a practical programming component using lego robots. The event was a collaboration between the English and Computer Science and allowed a group of adults to explore current technology and future ideas about robotics and autonomous systems. There was a great deal of interested discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Lego Space Rovers at Manchester Science Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A series of 20 workshops on programming autonomous systems delivered to families as part of Manchester Science Festival. Children were highly engaged and there were questions on future directions from parents. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://legorovers.csc.liv.ac.uk |
| Description | Liverpool Light Night |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | As part of Liverpool Light Night, the University of Liverpool organised an event showcasing university research which included a stand showing ideas about Autonomous Systems involving Lego Robots. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | MACDOS Lego Rover Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A series of Lego Rover workshops over 3 days, taken around schools in the Maghull area of Liverpool and organised by the Maghull and District Community of Schools (MADCOS). The events sparked questions and discussion from both children and teachers, as well as interest from some schools in obtaining the resources to use Lego Robots themselves. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Meet the Scientist and Destination: Space! (Museum stand) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The activity was part of a set of Space themed activities laid on at the end of half-term week by the World Museum. We engaged at various levels of depth with members of the general public, from introducing simple ideas from programming and robotics to children, to discussing the nature of artificial intelligence with adults. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Robotics Workshops at Tate Liverpool |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Delivered two workshops to supporters of Tate Liverpool to tie in with an exhibition on Robotics. Interested questions, particularly about programming, from members of the public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Stargazing at the World Museum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A stand demonstrating lego Mars Rovers featuring as part of an evening "stargazing" event at the World Museum in Liverpool. Many enthusiastic and interested discussions with members of the public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://legorovers.csc.liv.ac.uk |
| Description | Stargazing at the World Museum, Liverpool |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A stand demonstrating lego Mars Rovers featuring as part of an evening "stargazing" event at the World Museum in Liverpool. Many enthusiastic and interested discussions with members of the public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://legorovers.csc.liv.ac.uk |