Robot dog sparks curiosity at Glencairn Primary school​

Pupils at Glencairn Primary school in Stevenston welcomed innovators from the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland this week for a very special STEM visit!

Shining a spotlight on the power of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), the unique learning experience was organised by education officers from North Ayrshire Council’s STEM team as part of British Science Week.

Pupils were excited and had the chance to see Spot the Robot dog in action.

Spot is a loyal companion and teammate for colleagues at the Digital Process Manufacturing Centre (DPMC) in Irvine. Developed by Boston Dynamics, the agile four-legged mobile robot can be deployed in an array of environments and sites and seeks to automate tedious or dangerous tasks, allowing humans to focus on more creative and innovative activities.

It forms part of the DPMC’s demonstration equipment, supported through the Ayrshire Growth Deal, to help businesses identify how they can adapt to digital processes to reduce costs, carbon footprints and to increase productivity and competitiveness.

The DPMC team have previously worked with manufacturers across the food and drinks industry toshowcase Spot’s potential applications. In a recent example the team worked with a spirit’s manufacturer to utilise Spot’s “super-senses” and detect ethanol vapour leaks in whisky maturation warehouses.

Applications like this one remove human operators from prolonged exposure to vapours, improving their long-term health while also adding value to the business by detecting failures.

This week’s exciting visit was also an opportunity for pupils to witness the practical application of STEM in polymer additive manufacturing.

John Harman, Business Development Manager at the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) shared: “It was a pleasure to visit the pupils at Glencairn Primary School and spark their curiosity and bring thetheme of British Science Week to life with some of our cutting-edge technologies.

“Pupils were so engaged and their insight to STEM was incredible, sharing projects they have been working on in the school including recycling of crisp packets, Python coding, robotics and even recently extracting DNA from strawberries with the expertise of Tim from North Ayrshire Council’s STEM team.

“The work we do at the DPMC is focused on unlocking the potential of digital and intelligent technologies in Ayrshire’s manufacturing and process industries and supports the future workforce to integrate tools from robotic and 5G connectivity, to data analytics and AI. Our end goal is to help businesses to become more productive, sustainable and competitive. Experiences like this help to spark curiosity and confidence in the next generation of innovators, which is vital for the future of Scottish manufacturing.”

Located at i3 Business Park in Irvine, the DPMC forms part of the £251million Ayrshire Growth Deal and is a collaboration between the University of Strathclyde, operator of NMIS, North Ayrshire Council and the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI).

The school visit was a unique opportunity to better inform pupils about the possibilities that come from studying STEM subjects and the many opportunities available across the manufacturing and engineering sector.

Impressed pupils shared:

• “I was proud of our school today because we got to share what we love about STEM with experts in the industry.”

• “I couldn’t believe it when I saw the robot dog walking out into the school corridor. I’ll never forget meeting Spot, I can’t wait to tell my friends about it and all about the possibilities of STEM jobs.”

• “We have already had the chance to do some robotics at school and this has made we want to do more. I definitely want to study science, coding and CAD design when I go to secondary school.”

Councillor Eleanor Collier, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy shares: “Thank you to the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland team for providing this inspiring British Science Week visit for Glencairn Primary pupils.

“Green jobs remain a vital area of growth for our Counciland we are committed to sparking curiosity and encouraging more pupils to consider studying STEM subjects as we a build a skills pipeline for the future.”

Our Council Plan shows how the Council works in partnership to fulfil its aim of ‘A North Ayrshire that is ‘Fair for All’.

We want to become a wellbeing economy where we prioritise prosperity, wellbeing and resilience for our communities.

This is why our Council is supporting young learners via hands-on learning opportunities beyond the traditional classroom, to build a skills pipeline not only for the future of STEM, but for the future of all children and young people in North Ayrshire.

See some of the impressive emerging technologies demonstrated by the DPMC in a recent primary school visit to the centre in this video here: https://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/news/primary-pupils-harness-the-power-of-emerging-technology