January 5, 2014

Robot Builders R Us

The Robots project was designed to engage with people across PSS to encourage them to think about how technology could improve people’s safety and independence. The first challenge was to complete some draft drawings of robots and make a record of what actions their robot could perform. Teams received packs that included a sketchbook, a DVD of instructions and a design record to fill in about each design.

We received 12 entries from across the country including Scotland, Liverpool and Staffordshire and we tasked a panel of Brainiaks (Julia Purvis, Christine Barker & Karol Zwolinski) to assess the designs and invite those chosen to the second stage of the competition. For stage two we teamed up with the Bluecoat Display Centre and local artist Mike Badger to build the robots from recycled materials based on the original designs. Once the robots were built it was time to choose our overall winner and the panel took a long time in their deliberations. However, they struggled to choose between them and decided to award the ‘Supreme Robot Builder 2013’ title and £150 in assistive technology gift vouchers to:

• Family Impact Team with the ‘Rocky Robot’
• Wirral Shared Lives Team with the ‘Authenticon’
• Enable Team the ‘Reading Robot’

The Robots are now displayed at the Museum of Liverpool in the Mi Smart House. Congratulation to all our winners and well done and thanks to all the