Gallery 1: Cascade of Motorized Robots

What's so unique about LEAD student creations is that the motorized robots are controlled by computer programs, which are written by students themselves. The LEAD Pilot Project enable students to learn how to design robots with an engineering perspective using "PicoBlocks", a software created by MIT Media Laboratory. The designed programs are then transferred by infrared signals from the computer to a "programmable brick", which is able to store programs that control different parts of the robots.

Students are also given the opportunity to express their artistic talents in brightening up their robots, already equipped with motors, gears, and sensors of every kind (touch-, light- and sound-sensitive). By combining the elements of engineering, art and design, the motorized robots are able to perform purposeful tasks for the future 2020 Hong Kong, and to transcend their functional value by adding an aesthetic appeal in an increasingly automated environment of the future.

Overall, the student creations are truly a unique mix of engineering, art & design!

Project Themes

Students from the LEAD pilot schools and youth centres create motorized robots, whose collective purposes fall under a specific theme chosen by the school/youth centre, which is relevant to the overall showcase theme "Hong Kong 2020".

Each pilot school/youth centre demonstrates one of their motorized robots on stage at the LEAD Showcase on 28 May 2005. These student creations reflect what they think would be beneficial to the society and environment of Hong Kong in the year 2020. The robots are therefore arranged in an order that highlight two of the major areas of Hong Kong's future development by the year 2020: "Quality of Life" and "Environmental Well-being". The following is a description of each of these 13 motorized robots.

Quality of Life

Globalisation...

So what will Hong Kong be like, in the eyes of students, in the year 2020? At the current rate of globalisation, tourism could well be a huge industry by then! However, with the sweeping wave of global change, there could well be a number of problems coming our way. One such concern is the possible extinction of certain species...

As such, a group of students want to promote Eco-Tourism and make it a popular activity by the year 2020! They hope that this new form of tourism will help educate the public and finance the much-needed energy conservation programs.

Eco-Tourism/Attraction

St. Paul's Co-educational (Kennedy Road) Primary School
St. Paul's Co-educational (Macdonnell Road) Primary School
School Theme: Crocodile Carnival 2020
Cascade Robot: A crocodile band meets the tour guide

Well, after a long day at the crocodile carnival, the tourists would most likely want to catch up with some shopping! Since Hong Kong will always be a shopper's paradise, a school has come up with a fascinating idea for a shopping mall with their robot called "Human Spring Shooter"!

HKUGA Primary School
School Theme: Shopping Mall 2020
Cascade Robot: Human Spring Shooter!

Automation in Our Lives

There will also be a wide range of innovative technologies offering automation back in homes, making life easier and more fun!

Three schools have created various robots, all for the future automated homes!

Firstly, there is Mrs. Broom...

St. Paul's Convent School
School Theme: Intelligent Home 2020
Cascade Robot: Mrs. Broom

Next, as an alternative model, there is the Domestic helper...

The HKFYG Jockey Club Jat Min Youth S.P.O.T. and The HKFYG Lung Hang Youth S.P.O.T.
Project Theme: Domestic Helpers of 2020 Hong Kong
Cascade Robot: Multi-tasking Domestic Helper

And finally, the washing monster!

Creative Primary School
School Theme: Eyes on Robotic Home
Cascade Robot: Washing Monster

Transportation

As oil is gradually used up by the year 2020, people will be widely encouraged to use public transport instead to helps reduce air pollution. A group of students have come up with the idea of the triple-decker bus with a specially designed bus station that can ease congestion during rush hours.

The HKFYG Jockey Club Kwai Fong Youth S.P.O.T.
Project Theme: Hong Kong Transport in 2020
Cascade Robot: Triple-decker bus & bus station

People can park their cars in underground car parks. But to ease the entry/exit process, a school has come up with the idea of the revolving underground car park...

Hennessy Road Government Primary A.M. School
School Theme: Ferris Wheel Land
Cascade Robot: Revolving underground car park

Entertainment

Although travelling to work is without hassle and lives at home are comfortable by the year 2020, people will still not be happy without entertainment! In the following section, let's take a look at another 3 robots that can be used at a football match in the year 2020.

Since it is expected that there would be lots of rubbish after a football match, the conveyor belt advert robot advertises a most unique rubbish collection service!

Queen's College
School Theme: Rubbish Vanishing Robots
Cascade Robot: Conveyor belt rubbish collection service advert robot

Well, as the match nears its end, both sides unfortunately find themselves at a draw, calling for a highly heated penalty shoot-out! The penalty robot proves to be very useful here...

Po Leung Kuk Luk Hing Too Primary School
School Theme: New Perspective of Ancient China
Cascade Robot: Automatic Football Collector

After a long complicated match, the fans are now "ready" for some snacks and drinks and make their way to the stadium cafe! There they will be greatly delighted by the delicious fudge strawberries, freshly made and "robohand-picked"!

Hong Kong International School
School Theme: Entertainment in Hong Kong
Cascade Robot: Strawberry Dipper

Environmental Well-being

Despite the rapid advances in technology in the homes, some have also warned of potential effects of globalisation, such as global warming, which brings about climate change, rise in sea level, as well as overcrowding in the megacities of the future.

Climate Change

In order to combat the increasingly unpredictable weather, a school has developed the "Dry Dock"...

The ISF Academy
School Theme: A Hong Kong Weather Story
Cascade Robot: Dry Dock

Rise in Sea Level

As a result of widespread climate change causing a gradual rise in the sea level, houses may one day need to be able to float on the sea! A school has constructed a floating house, which is guarded 24 hours a day by a "perimeter security boat".

Pui Ching Middle School
School Theme: Floating Houses
Cascade Robot: Floating house with perimeter security boat

Overcrowding

The world's population is continuing to expand, causing more and more problems of overcrowding, especially in the ever-expanding city areas. In view of this situation, a group of students has created the "Haven on the Move"...

St. Stephen's Girls' College
School Theme: Mobile-Topia: Harbour Shooter and Haven on the Move
Cascade Robot: Haven on the Move

Recycling

A direct result of overcrowding will be the huge amount of waste materials generated each day! Recycling is definitely the key to cut down on the amount of waste generated. A school has therefore made a robot called "Go for the Power - Throw for the Flowers".

Marymount Secondary School
School Theme: The Diamond of Hong Kong
Cascade Robot: Go for the Power - Throw for the Flowers

So, as you can see, the LEAD student creations are not only intricate in design but also have a great functional purpose too. Their creations aim to enhance our lives whilst tackling the challenges we face ahead. It is obvious that as future global citizens and leaders, we need to be not only innovative but also responsible with the applications of new technologies to ensure sustainable development into the 21st century!

Come Create - GO LEAD!