Over the past two decades, technology has advanced exponentially, altering almost every generation’s perspective and interaction with the world. This has also brought about change to the academic output, placing great emphasis on the uptake of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics subjects by learners. Festo Didactic recently launched a Code Them Young educational drive to keep pace with these changes. This initiative highlights the importance and benefits of young individuals engaging in STE(A)M from an early age. The leading training company is integrating coding and robotics through Bionic education to revolutionalise the learning process through this initiative.

Bionics4Education: learning from nature

Festo established Bionics4Education to engage and excite young people about STEAM as part of their dedication to the advancement of teaching and learning. The key components of their bionics involve learning from nature and drawing inspiration from its enormous pool of intelligent solutions. The objective of this cutting-edge learning equipment is to provide educators with a variety of bionics-inspired tasks and supporting materials that they can use to create a project-based learning experience that focuses on 21st-century skills for their students. These skills include creativity, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving. Their array of bionic products consists of the Bionics Kit, Bionic Flower, and Bionic Swift. 

Coding and Robotics Curriculum: meet your requirements by integrating nature inspired robotics

Bionics Kit, three in one

Their Bionics Kit consists of materials and components required to complete three different bionic projects. These projects are the Bionic Fish, Bionic Chameleon Gripper, and Bionic Elephant Trunk. The elephant trunk comprises of an adaptive gripper with the Fin Ray Effect. These robots are actuated by servo drives and controlled by a microcontroller. Furthermore, detailed instructions are provided for each bionic to allow students to assemble the robots and easily control them individually or in groups. They can do this by using smartphones that expose them to the functionality as well as the application of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills while exploring how nature solves problems.

 Bionic Flower, inspired by the plant world

Succeeding the kit is the captivating Bionic Flower which was designed following the mimosa plant and water lilies’ mechanism. These plants have one thing in common: the opening and closing of their leaves due to external stimuli such as touch, proximity, or light. Students can experiment with the light and proximity sensors. They can also adapt the control system to various scenarios. With the built-in LEDs, the Bionic Flower can respond to chosen stimuli with selected colours. 

The graphic coding interface “Open Roberta” can be used to program the compact integrated circuit known as the microcontroller. The simplicity of this platform enables beginners to write coding programs effectively. Students that are already familiar with coding can program their Bionic Flowers in C++. This construction kit will introduce them to coding and robotics while fostering creativity, teamwork, and communication.

Bionic Swift experimental set

Lastly, their Bionic Swift is a flight-inspired robot bird designed for general technical education. The experimental set allows the wings and tail to be manipulated by remote control. In integrative STEAM lessons, students learn the basics of bird flight and the working principle of flapping wings in a playful manner. Natural science and technology-related topics, such as the fascination with bird flight, lightweight construction, energy efficiency, and aerodynamics, are taught through a project-based learning approach with hands-on experience.

Festo has been a driving automation force for almost five decades. They have made remarkable Pneumatic, Electric and Process Automation advancements in the industry. Additionally, they are recognised as leading technical education providers. Thanks to the company’s experience, they are aware of the requirements to produce future engineers and technicians. “We believe that the integration of bionics in the curriculum will motivate students to pursue STEAM subjects as the equipment is fun and engaging”, said David Sethlake, Didactic Area Manager for South Africa. “In addition to an increase in STEAM subject uptake, educational institutions will produce brilliant students who are equipped to take on the world of industrialisation”, he concluded.