On Saturday November 25, Mullingar CoderDojo hosted a very special event for future robotic engineers and their families. Sponsored by leading automation company Robotics and Drives, the event meant that children got a chance to learn about augmented reality, virtual reality and robotics.
Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT ) attended and brought virtual reality technology so that those in attendance could learn how to use VR goggles and understand what the technology can do. Local company, Base Computers arranged an augmented reality photo booth, where the children could understand what avatars are. This was great fun and was projected on the wall of the Mullingar Charity Variety Group hall.
Dr Niall Murray of AIT said: “It's so important to start early with science, technology, engineering, and maths outreach for kids. While the kids are having fun, they are learning about some very heavy-duty engineering topics such as virtualisation, machine learning and programming.”
Mullingar CoderDojo were able to show off their new robot, which Robotics and Drives had helped them to purchase earlier this year.
On the day Chloe Gavin from The Bower in Athlone and Jack Hand from CBS Mullingar represented Robotics and Drives as student ambassadors. Chloe and Jack have recently completed their transition year work experience at Robotics and Drives.
More than 85 local children and 55 of their parents attended the event and all were given a special STEM science party-bag, which was provided by Midlands Regional Skills Forum to support the development of the 'Midlands for Robotics' movement.
