The Future
Our aim is to enthuse young people in practical science and engineering and our plan for the future is to firstly provide a lead-in activity that gives pupils practice in soldering electronics components and secondly provide a follow-on challenge for senior pupils who have already built a Rampaging Chariot and competed it in at least one Robotic Games.
The four elements below can be used as a coordinated project sequence to progress in the practical understanding of robotics. The basic equipment and techniques can also be used in many other scientific and engineering projects such as botany, meteorology, chemistry, electronics, computing and engineering. Our website gives several ideas and we are pleased to add new ideas as these are invented by our young scientists and engineers in schools and university.
Ages 10 to 12. – ‘Gizmo Boards’
Build simple electronics boards to control LEDs and small motors and incorporate these in artistic applications such as displays, gifts and decorations.
This provides an excellent way of learning how to solder and some Gizmo Boards can be directly plugged into the Rampaging Chariot Control boards to enhance the appearance and functionality of the robot. Some Primary schools have constructed these boards to fit on Rampaging Chariots made in Senior Schools and thereby enhance the cooperation between the Secondary school and its Primary feeder schools.
This project is now operating as the Lighting Up the Curriculum for Excellence initiative.
Ages 13 to 17 – ‘Rampaging Chariots’
Construct a powerful radio controlled sporting robot and compete your creation in the ‘Rampaging Chariot’ Robotic Games.
Having built a standard Rampaging Chariot and competed it at the Games, pupils are encouraged to experiment with modifications to improve its performance and add sensors and autonomy. Universities have also acquired these kits as a simple and cheap platform to teach and experiment with autonomous algorithms.
Incorporate your own ideas to improve the basic model to increase its performance.
Ages 13 to 18 -- ‘Data Logging and Analysis’ – At the Design stage
Discover the scientific laws and principles behind live events by using temperature, electrical, sound and motion sensors to record data from a Rampaging Chariot or other project over a long or short period. Then analyse this data on your PC using easy configurable software.
This data logging and telemetry system has proven to be very popular for understanding and developing the robots and can also be used for other engineering and scientific projects. The Guild intend to publish the circuit design and component list on our website and provide the PCB to interested organisations.
Ages 16 to 20 – ‘Autonomous Rampaging Chariot’ – At the Prototype stage
Change a basic Rampaging Chariot into autonomous operation and design your own control laws. Conduct practical experiments and log and analyse its performance via telemetry.
