Pupils at St Martin at Shouldham Primary Academy welcome robot
Pupils at a primary school have been wowed by a visit from a cutting-edge robot.
Mike Ford, a chartered engineer and robotics enthusiast, brought his groundbreaking robot, ‘4D’, into St Martin at Shouldham Primary Academy to inspire the next generation of innovators.
The visit centred around the theme of 'What's Not Possible,' sparking excitement and curiosity among the children.
During the event, Mike demonstrated how technology and innovation could break barriers, using 4D the robot to illustrate the idea that nothing is impossible.
Students engaged in hands-on experiments, asking 4D questions, taking the robot for a walk and even enjoying its dance moves to Gangnam Style.
The children also witnessed 4D kicking a football, creating memorable moments and inspiring their imaginations.
Mike has a wealth of experience across various engineering sectors including marine engineering and nuclear power.
He is passionate about motivating young minds to explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM).
For the past 11 years, Mike has worked closely with high-profile projects, including BLOODHOUND SSC, the World Land Speed Record Team, where they are designing and building a car to break the land speed record.
Charlie, a Year 6 student, described the experience as "really inspiring”. Year 5 students Kieran and Harriet also expressed their enthusiasm, with Kieran stating; "I thought it was amazing and I loved it when 4D danced. Thumbs up from me."
Harriet added: "It was very interesting, and the rocket fuel explosion was my favourite part."
The event also featured videos highlighting the cutting-edge technology behind 4D and other robotics, leaving students with a deeper understanding of STEAM fields.
"The videos used were brilliant, and I loved learning about all the technology. It was very inspiring," said Betty, a Year 5 student. Thomas from Year 6 echoed her sentiments, saying: "I liked 4D, and I learned that nothing is impossible."
Katherine Howe, executive head teacher at St Martin’s, said: “It was interesting to see how quickly our students took to 4D the robot, as well as the huge level of interest from them in all things robotics.
“For today’s children, their future lives and careers will increasingly feature robots and AI in a way we might have never imagined - so it’s great to see their enthusiasm starting from such a young age”.
This visit marks the beginning of a series of exciting robotics workshops, culminating in British Science Week in March of next year, where the theme will be 'Change and Adapt’.
Mike's visit has sparked a wave of enthusiasm for STEAM subjects, helping students realise the vast career opportunities available in these fields, including jobs that do not yet exist.
