On 21st January, a space for robotics and learning

They will be arriving from all over Italy to challenge each other with small robots in a scenario halfway between reality and science fiction. An intense and for the most part innovative programme is what the Istituto Professionale Statale “G. Fascetti” has in store with the 27^th edition of “Robofesta”, an event that is on the Ministry of Education’s calendar and which enjoys the patronage of the Tuscany Region and of the Province and Municipality of Pisa, and which will be held this coming 21^st January. Of course the event wouldn’t be complete without the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna: at 11 am a group of researchers from its Biorobotics Institute will present the “ANGELS” (Anguilliform Robot With Electric Sense) project in the school’s Aula Polifunzionale (multi-purpose room). For years the Sant’Anna has been a valued partner of the Istituto Professionale Fascetti, thanks to the understanding forged with Professor Paolo Dario, and for some time has helped to raise the qualitative level of an event which for seventeen years has been bringing together education and robotics research.

The ANGELS project sets out to study the interaction between the morphology of the body of a robotic system and its behaviour by developing and building underwater platforms capable of operating independently or combining so as to comprise a single robot that swims in an anguilliform manner. These two different morphologies make use of an artificial electrical sense, bio-inspired by that of certain fish (gymnotid and mormirid) both for recognising objects and obstacles and for communicating between individual modules. Thanks to its characteristics, the abovementioned robotic system can be used in environments where it is not possible to use vision (for perception) or propellers (for propulsion) due to the presence of murky water, industrial waste or algae.

The event programme is decidedly full: it begins at 8.30 am with the “Green Robot” contest exhibition, drawings on an ecological theme connected to robotics for lower secondary school pupils. Next the mini-sumo competition will get underway, the traditional Japanese combat sport in which the mini-robots will face each other, attempting to push each other out of the ring. At the same time the first “Line Follower” competition will be held, in which small independent robots will have to complete a mini racetrack, Formula One-style, in the shortest time possible, following a black reference line exactly, thanks to a sophisticated system of electronic eyes. Challenges between robots firing invisible rays, a robot-football demonstration by researchers from the University of Rome and the promotion of free software organised by the Gruppo Utenti Linux di Pisa (Pisa Linux User Group) will complete the already-packed programme of the day in the institute’s gymnasium.

It’s just a short step from technical details to fun and games with the entertainment organised in the school’s outdoor grounds. In addition to a large delegation from Auto Tuning, with elegant cars decorated with fine printed designs and sophisticated mechanical and audio/video tuning, powerful road bikes will be on show, provided by Pisa-based Honda Motomania and by the Biketrainer team. And while grown-up visitors will be spoilt for choice, what about the many lower secondary school pupils for whom two really fascinating exhibitions are in store. Radio-controlled helicopters provided by “Beppe R.C. Model”, Pontasserchio will take to the sky in a whirl of floating acrobatics while “Big Scale” models, sophisticated radio-controlled petrol-fuelled, 1:5-scale cars from the Harm Motomania assocation, Pisa will put on a show of high-speed manoeuvres on a track laid out on pavement. For nostalgic souls, the classic car show put on by the Kinzica stable from Pisa and the two-wheeled legends belonging to the Vespa Club Pisa are not to be missed. The day dedicated to robotics will continue with a round table from 3.30 to 6.00 pm to discuss new developments in the sector and its educational applications, while the school buildings and laboratories will be open to visitors as part of the “Scuola Aperta” (Open School) programme for the purpose of providing educational guidance.


Source: intoscana.it