The Digital Yard train is rolling...

[Don1]

ALL ABOARD!!! TOOT!!! TOOT!!!!!!!!!

Kimroy Bailey Foundation Takes Robotics To Lowe River
Published: Saturday | November 9, 2013




Children show off some of the robotS they constructed, with Kimroy Bailey
Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer

LOWE RIVER, Trelawny:MORE THAN two dozen enthusiastic children in Lowe River and surrounding communities in south Trelawny were recently given an introduction to robotics courtesy of the Kimroy Bailey Foundation, which worked in association with the Digital Yard Foundation and Access Financial Company Ltd.

The Science, Robotics and Renewable Energy camp took place at Bailey's alma mater, the Lowe River Primary and Junior High School, and was one of six that took place islandwide for children under 16 whose parents are either employees or clients of Access Financial Company Limited.

Bailey said the initiative was aimed at increasing interest in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) among the young.

With organisers prepared to accept between 15 and 20 students, 29 showed up on the first day. However, Bailey and two volunteers, Raymond Ferguson and Marcel Clarke, did not turn away any of the eager learners.

The first half of the camp was designed to allow the participants to see how important science, robotics, and renewable energy can be in everyday life.

The second half, tailored to innovations and making ideas coming to life, was led by Raymond Ferguson, a volunteer from the Kimroy Bailey Foundation.

Using kits provided by Digital Yard Foundation, students were divided into groups and instructed on how to make their very own simple machines, wind turbines, and a host of other items that brought science, robotics, and renewable energy to life.

three-day curriculum

"The camp was truly a superb experience for the students who came out and the volunteers that delivered the three-day curriculum," Bailey stated.

"Mrs Weir, the principal of the Lowe River Primary and Junior High School, expressed gratitude that her school was selected for this pilot project, and the teachers all hailed the programme as a grand success and promised to keep us posted on the results of the participants in the 2014 GSAT examination."

Bailey hailed the camp as "a big success for both students and organisers" and disclosed that both foundations planned to unveil a series of similar programmes in Jamaica's primary and high school to accelerate the learning of STEM among youngsters.

rural@gleanerjm.com

[Islandman]

Hmm, I wasn't aware of this piece, thanks for posting.

Lowe River's camp was actually a forerunner and a pilot for the Access Financial partnership which followed, but a nuh nutten if dem get a likkle extra PR.

Yeah some pickney crash the party fe true, say dem hear say a science camp a gwan and dem want fe come. Bwoy I tell you, who did say the youth dem only want fe run and dance fe entertain Caesar?

[Don1]

Hmm, I wasn't aware of this piece, thanks for posting.

Lowe River's camp was actually a forerunner and a pilot for the Access Financial partnership which followed, but a nuh nutten if dem get a likkle extra PR.

Yeah some pickney crash the party fe true, say dem hear say a science camp a gwan and dem want fe come. Bwoy I tell you, who did say the youth dem only want fe run and dance fe entertain Caesar?

miseeit.... noice

[World Fan]

Not fast enough

http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Comp...y-goes-robotic
December 3, 2013 1:00 pm JST
Kawasaki Heavy ready to pounce as Chinese industry goes robotic




TOKYO -- Chinese manufacturers are increasingly turning to industrial robots to cope with rising labor costs, as well as a growing tendency among the country's young to shun factory work. According to the International Federation of Robotics, China is projected to surpass Japan and become the world's largest robot market in 2015, with domestic shipments topping 34,000 units.
Yasuhiko Hashimoto


Clearly, there are opportunities for industrial robot makers. One such company, Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries, intends to open a Chinese plant for producing the contraptions in the spring of 2015, just as the market hits its stride. The Nikkei spoke with Yasuhiko Hashimoto, head of the robot division, about the machinery manufacturer's strategy.
Q: How does the Chinese factory fit into Kawasaki Heavy's plans?
A: China's economy continues to grow at a high rate, and will for some time in the future. We expect the roughly 10,000-sq.-meter plant will be capable of producing more than 10,000 robots a year by 2016 or 2017. Given the possibility of exporting the robots to other countries as well, we regard the plant as our second key production site, following the Japanese one.
We will significantly automate production at the new plant. This will make a big difference compared with our domestic Akashi plant (in Akashi, Hyogo Prefecture), which is struggling to expand automation due to location constraints. To make products of stable quality, the Chinese facility will use industrial robots in various assembly processes, such as bolting parts.
Q: What kinds of robots will the plant produce?
A: We have no plans to transfer production from Japan. The new factory will make products that are expected to be in demand in China. Clients in China and Japan require different robot capabilities.
Our product designers visit China regularly so as to develop products that meet local needs, such as robots capable of carrying heavy loads. In particular, we will focus on handling robots, which are used for distribution between processes, and robots for automobile production.
Up to this point, we have developed robots that satisfy Japanese specifications. Now we will do the same for China.
Q: How do you intend to promote your robots there?
A: In China, many companies will start installing industrial robots. But they also need to know how to make the most of them. The new plant will serve as a showroom, demonstrating to visitors how robots can be put to work at a production site.
Interviewed by Nikkei staff writer Hisashi Iwato
(Nikkei)

[Don1]

Yuh right...suh yuh ready fi trow a money fi grease di wheel dem?

[World Fan]

Use technology to educate in technology.

Can use some of that money from the new crash work/JEEP/road work program.

[Islandman]

I assume that is a NO