Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Toy Robot that Taught Science





"The 1950s Toy Robot Sensation That Time Forgot"

"Before Rosie and R2-D2 became pop culture icons, a humble toy named Robert paved the way.

In examining the history of famous robots, you'd be forgiven for overlooking a 1950s children's toy named Robert.


Robert the Robot, who was a product of the once-mighty Ideal Toy Company, didn't do much, at least compared to the standards set by science fiction at the time. Unlike the helpful humanoids of Isaac Asimov's I, Robot, Robert was just a 14-inch-tall hunk of plastic that could utter a few phrases, wheel around with a tethered remote control, and grip objects in his mechanical arms.


Still, Robert deserves credit for being the first plastic toy robot made in the United States, and the first toy robot to become an American sensation. He was the subject of children's songs, enjoyed a Hollywood film cameo, and was quickly imitated by rival toy makers. He also preceded the industrial robotics boom by several years, capturing people's imagination long before we truly understood what robots could do.






Robert maintained a high profile through copious advertising

Ta-Ta, Tin

Robert was not the first toy robot of the post-WWII era. That honor, according to Collectors Weekly, goes to Lilliput, a Japanese robot made of tin. After the war, tin lithograph toys were a popular export from American-occupied Japan, and Lilliput spawned plenty of successors.


But Robert was an American original, who according to Robotapedia was originally supposed to be a tie-in to the 1954 robot film Tobor the Great. Although Robert never appeared in the film, he received plenty of promotion on his own, debuting in the 1954 Sears Christmas catalog with an asking price of just under $6, or about $54 in 2016 dollars.


Instead of tin, Ideal used plastic injection molding—a process that itself rose to prominence during the war. Plastic was cheaper than tin or cast iron, and it allowed American companies like Ideal to produce their own toys instead of importing and reselling them.


"Robert was an answer to this massive amount of tin toys that were coming from Japan," says Justin Pinchot, a Los Angeles-based collector of vintage toy robots and ray guns. "It was really the beginning of the plastic era."






That's not to say Robert was some cheap knockoff. Cranking the handle on Robert's back caused him to speak ("I am Robert Robot, mechanical man. Drive me and steer me, wherever you can"), while a battery inside Robert's head allowed his eyes to light up. The cable-driven remote control was novel as well, using a hand crank for movement and a trigger for rotation.
Robert also had a unique aesthetic. As Pinchot points out, no one else was doing large robots with "skirted" lower sections at the time, and the look was quickly duplicated even in Japanese robots such as the "Gang of Five," who remain beloved by toy-robot collectors.
"A lot of these innovations were started here and picked up by Japan, so I think Robert was one of those. I'm sure he inspired a lot of tin stuff," Pinchot says.

The Mechanical Man

How popular was Robert the Robot? While verifiable sales figures are illusive, a September 1955 story in the Portsmouth Times of Portsmouth, Ohio, claimed that Robert was Ideal's biggest hit yet. Demand was so strong that Ideal started licensing T-shirts, flashlights, and other Robert-related merchandise, and when Shillito's Toyland opened in downtown Cincinnati in 1955, a 9-foot-tall Robert greeted customers on the sidewalk, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.




Robert cameos with Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray in There's Always Tomorrow
Robert never became an enduring pop culture icon despite his Hollywood origins, but he did enjoy some attention from the entertainment industry. The children's music label Cricket Records produced a pair of songs about him, and he made a short appearance in the Douglas Sirk melodrama There's Always Tomorrow, starring Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray..."

Read the full article at its source:  https://www.fastcompany.com/3066169/robot-revolution/the-toy-robot-sensation-that-time-forgot 

Monday, December 5, 2016

Primary school student in Borneao wins mini robotics competition

Robotics competition increases student interest in STEAM





WINDHAM - Roughly a dozen people gathered around the plexiglass stadium to watch the fight, with more sitting in the bleachers.

All were eager to see who would be the reigning champion of the Vex Robotics Competition Holiday Classic at Pembroke Academy on Saturday.

The daylong event brought in primarily high school students from all across New England to compete for the chance to advance to next the round before going to the state competition in February. Some who have already qualified still came out to compete.

Educators say competitions like this are vital in efforts to increase student interest in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) fields.
- See more at: http://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20161204/NEWS19/161209771&source=RSS#sthash.ZUhYioXY.dpuf

Robotics competition increases student interest in STEAM





WINDHAM - Roughly a dozen people gathered around the plexiglass stadium to watch the fight, with more sitting in the bleachers.

All were eager to see who would be the reigning champion of the Vex Robotics Competition Holiday Classic at Pembroke Academy on Saturday.

The daylong event brought in primarily high school students from all across New England to compete for the chance to advance to next the round before going to the state competition in February. Some who have already qualified still came out to compete.

Educators say competitions like this are vital in efforts to increase student interest in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) fields.
- See more at: http://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20161204/NEWS19/161209771&source=RSS#sthash.ZUhYioXY.dpuf

Robotics competition increases student interest in STEAM






WINDHAM - Roughly a dozen people gathered around the plexiglass stadium to watch the fight, with more sitting in the bleachers.

All were eager to see who would be the reigning champion of the Vex Robotics Competition Holiday Classic at Pembroke Academy on Saturday.

The daylong event brought in primarily high school students from all across New England to compete for the chance to advance to next the round before going to the state competition in February. Some who have already qualified still came out to compete.

Educators say competitions like this are vital in efforts to increase student interest in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) fields.
- See more at: http://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20161204/NEWS19/161209771&source=RSS#sthash.ZUhYioXY.dpuf

Robotics competition increases student interest in STEAM




WINDHAM - Roughly a dozen people gathered around the plexiglass stadium to watch the fight, with more sitting in the bleachers.

All were eager to see who would be the reigning champion of the Vex Robotics Competition Holiday Classic at Pembroke Academy on Saturday.

The daylong event brought in primarily high school students from all across New England to compete for the chance to advance to next the round before going to the state competition in February. Some who have already qualified still came out to compete.

Educators say competitions like this are vital in efforts to increase student interest in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) fields.
- See more at: http://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20161204/NEWS19/161209771&source=RSS#sthash.ZUhYioXY.dpuf

"Primary school student wins mini robotics competition

Fourteen kids aged six to 15 participated in the Datuk Sebastian Ting Challenge Cup Mini Robotics Competition held in conjunction with 12th Miri Trade Fair (Mitraf 12) here on Sunday.



Primary school pupil Jaxon Moh emerged as the champion, while Yong Vin Cent placed second. Bong Zhen Yong came in third and six-year-old Sim Zhi Yang in fourth place.


Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting presented prizes to the winners.


Earlier when declaring the competition open, Ting also emphasised on the important role of parents in a child’s development and how much each child should value the experiences they go through when they are still young.


“Parents must find time to spend with their children no matter how busy they are so that the children do not feel left out. Every parent wants the best for their children and nurturing their kids from young is vital in the child’s development,” he said.


Praising the event organiser’s efforts, Ting hoped to see this event held again and able to attract more young innovators from around Miri.


“Going through a competition like this is a very valuable experience for these kids. Their young minds are very curious and willing to learn new things and I urge every parent to encourage their children and support their talent,” he said, adding he was proud to see the involvement of these young participants.
Ting also said parents should expose their kids to encourage them to be more creative and innovative as these are the ones that would be the country’s future innovators.

Participants in this competition made their own mini robots using Lego Mindstorms within a stipulated time. The judging was based on which was the stronger mini robot that could pull their opponent’s robot to the other side.


The challenge cup, which was being held at Mitraf for the first time, was organised by Quick Smart Tutoring Centre and Robowis, co-organised by See Hua Marketing (SHM) and sponsored by Sasbadi..."

Read the full story at its source: Borneo Post Online -  http://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20161204/NEWS19/161209771&source=RSS