One of the things that the AgriFoRwArdS CDT prides itself on is listening to feedback from our Students. Students made us aware that, perhaps due to the nature of their projects, some didn’t get as much hands on experience, actually using the robotic systems they work on, as they would wish. This is partly because robotics is something of a team sport, but it’s certainly something we knew we could remedy!

This week we had the opportunity to get our students together and offered a day working with some of the robot systems we have in and around the University of Lincoln, this event was run by Dr Rob Lloyd, the CDT’s Mechatronics Engineer. We had the Trilobots that we use in the BSc Robotics course, LIMO robots that we use to teach MSc Students to start working with ROS2, not to mention other systems people had seen hanging around and just wanted to ‘have a go’ with.

How students chose to use the time was up to them, some worked in a team to build servers and mobile apps to drive a robot using a phone accelerometer. Others tried things that they’ve only ever done in simulation. The day was all about experimentation, problem-solving, and learning by doing. It wasn’t just about the technical skills; it was also about the collaborative learning experience. Students who had worked with certain robots before shared their insights and tips with those who were new to the technology. This peer-to-peer exchange is exactly the kind of environment we want to foster, where learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom but across the entire university community.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to continue integrating more hands-on opportunities. Robotics is a field that thrives on innovation and experimentation, and the more time our students spend interacting directly with the systems they’ll one day be designing and building in the wider world, the better prepared they’ll be for their future careers. It’s clear that giving students the chance to get their hands dirty with real robots – whether it’s working with state-of-the-art systems or tinkering with older model – will play a critical role in their development and we can’t wait to see what students will do next! Stay tuned for more updates on future hands-on robotics events and projects at AgriFoRwArdS.

What did the students have to say about the experience:

It was good to have some time to work on something without the pressure of a deadline.

I’ve heard about Beerbot, but I didn’t realise it was this big!

I’ve finally had time to learn Docker properly!