Robotics adds up to a lot of fun

What began as a way to keep his own children occupied during the holidays for a Durban lecturer has turned into a popular programme aimed at demonstrating the fun side of mathematics and technology.

Colin Thakur, the head of the Enterprise Development Unit at the Durban University of Technology, is running a robotics class during the school holidays which teaches children to build and programme their own robots.

The five-day classes are aimed at children between the ages of nine and 17.

Once the robots, made from customised Lego blocks, are completed, they are able to walk, differentiate and eventually possess decision-making capabilities.

Thakur was inspired to purchase the set for his 13-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son while in Australia.

"I thought it would keep them out of my hair and I would get some reading done - not a chance! I ended up putting it together myself and I thought if I am having this much fun with it, imagine how children will respond," said Thakur.

Thakur then approached a local block distributor, purchased 40 educational packs, and the robotics course was born. Classes are currently being held at Westville Boys' High School.

Each robot takes nearly six hours to put together with the help of project co-ordinator Niri Pillay.

"Why this programme is good is that it teaches children many skills from engineering to megatronics. But they don't realise they are actually learning. It will be only later when they choose careers that they will realise what they had learnt," said Pillay.

Thakur said the response from children had been "phenomenal" so far.

"There was one 12-year-old who, after he was done, wanted his parents to buy him the set so he could work at home. He said he would go on a hunger strike if they didn't.

"But the hunger strike was only from nine in the morning till 3pm. That's the hours the classes run for!"

Dillon Joseph, 14, said he was glad to be a part of the class even though it pushed him mentally.

"It's very challenging but fun. There are these moments when you have ideas about how you would change things about the robot. It is all dependent on your imagination," he said.

Thakur's next aim is to move the programme into areas like Phoenix, Chatsworth and Umlazi to target a wider audience.

"I will do it. Even if I have to conduct free classes."