Creating a Garden for Our Robot

Today the Robot Boys created a garden for our robot to stand in.

We planted native grasses that over time will grow to cover the feet of the robot.

We laid down weed mat first and framed it so the mower can mow around the garden easily.

Mr Kerr gave us great instructions on how to plant the grasses and we didn't forget to water them.

Installing the heart

Heart surgeons at work.

Giving our Robot a Heart

Mr Kerr ade a hole in the chest plate to put a solar powered garden light which would represent our robot's heart.

Making our Robot Lighter

We relaced the centre screen with a flat screen because it was much lighter.

Can you see the ears? They were made from the internal fans of our old server.

Key boards were added to the arms for another dimension.

The eyes and teeth glow at night because they are solar powered LED lights.

Riot keeps his head down while Mr Ngatai tec screws the left hand of the robot. Drilling into steel is hard work.

Adding Arms

We decided to use the remaining old screens for our robots arms. After taking out the insides and putting the boxes back together, Mr Ngatai secured the arms with hands made from old Furnware chair backs.

We added some eyes

Jun and Mr Ngatai are threading LED lights into the face plate of the robot's face. They are solar powered and will glow in the dark as the robot's eyes...spooky!

A Head above the rest

WE started to add a head on our robot using another hard drive.

What about using the old server?

Harley thought we could use parts of the old server but his way of getting the parts looked like a severe way of doing things.

Adding the body

We tried several combinations before we settled on using four hard drives the same size as our central body.

We removed all the wiring and computer parts before we reassembled the hard drives.

Drilling through steel

WE all had to hold the frame so that Mr Ngatai could drill through both of the steel plates.

The steel became hot as he drilled.

Little pieces of steel flicked off the drill bit but did not fall on us.

Riot had sore arms from holding the steel.

Mr Ngatai should have worn ear muffs (he said later on).

Tightening the Nuts and Bolts

JamieGene is holding two crecents as he tightens the bolt to the nut underneath.

Bolting on the Waist and Arms

Mr Ngatai helped us position and bolt on the upper torso of the robot. The steel was very heavy and we needed all of us on hand to help tighten the bolts.

The Legs

The legs are made out of old computer screens.

We took the screens out of their casings and sent them away to be recycled. We put the casings back together and threaded them over the steel legs. Two of the casings had their bases on so they looked like knee caps.

We then waited a day for the concrete to set before the next stage.

Pouring the base

Here Harley and Riot are pouring the concrete into the pre-dug holes and securing the steel framed legs of the robot.

Mr Kerr showed us how to mix the concrete to a thick consistency, so that it would set quickly.

We filled two of the computer screens with concrete also to add strength to the sculpture.

Positioning the Frame

It was decided to position the Robot close to our Waharoa so that visitors could see it as soon as they entered our school.

The Robot would also be part of our Sculpture Park that we are creating in front of the senior classes.

Two 600mm holes were dug to take the legs of the robot and filled with concrete to anchor the base.

More frame pictures

Here the welders are using a welding mask to protect their faces and eyes from the sparks and bright light.

Building our Frame

Mr Kerr organised a welder to come to school and help construct the skeletal frame that our Robot would be built around.

Term 3, 2010 Updates

The Robot Boys have been very busy and have now found some time to up-date their Blog with new posts and pictures of all their hard work.

Adrian's Introduction

Kia ora my name is Adrian and I am a member of this whanau.

Hi, I am Jun and this is me getting some parts for my robot.

Recycling old computers to make our robots

Hi, my name is Harley and here I am opening up an old hard drive to see what I can recycle for my robot.

Kia ora and Welcome

We are a group of Year 7 and 8 students here at Rhode Street School in Hamilton who have set up this Blog to chronicle our learning journey about the ROBOTS we are making this year.