Robotics and Coding Exploration

This Tuesday, the Girls in STEM Club at the Discovery Science and Technology Centre continued their exciting journey into the world of robotics and coding.  The session focused on comparing how different robots respond to various commands and programming inputs, using Spheros, Blue Bots, and the Rover J Bots from the Australian Space Agency.

The room buzzed with energy as the girls experimented with these three types of robots, each with unique capabilities and responses.  The girls observed firsthand how different coding platforms influenced movement and task completion, from drag-and-drop block coding to directional programming.  This led to rich discussions about which approaches were effective, which proved frustrating, and how to troubleshoot problems when things did not go to plan.

A key learning moment came through trial and error.  As the girls worked in pairs and small teams, they refined their algorithms altering speed, angles, sequences, and sensor inputs, making thoughtful decisions to improve accuracy and efficiency.  Communication also became a central theme.  To successfully guide their robots through obstacle courses and specific tasks, the girls had to articulate clear, logical instructions, a skill crucial not just in coding, but in teamwork and leadership.

The session began with a short film that humorously portrayed a robot repeatedly failing its tasks due to imperfect instructions.  This sparked laughter, but also a deeper understanding of how critical clear, accurate coding is to successful programming.  It set the stage perfectly for the girls’ hands-on exploration and fuelled their perseverance throughout the activities.

As always, the atmosphere was one of curiosity, resilience, and collaboration.  The girls were not just learning to code, they were learning to think, adapt, and communicate like engineers.

Each challenge overcome brought them one step closer to mastering the language of robotics.

Thank you, Briega, for promptly providing the session brief and photographs, which made this report possible!