Robots of the Future Robots, as we know them, came out of the late nineteenth century. They featured in films of the early 1950s as mechanical humans that would perform superhuman feats. Other robots simply carried out household tasks like cleaning and cooking while their owners relaxed. Students are asked to Design a robot of the future - thinking about what our needs might be in a hundred year’s time and what tasks robots will do for us? Skills and learning: Imagination Lateral thinking Problem solving Engineering Drawing and perspective skills Real world and future world problems Annotation and technical drawing

Food Waste Solutions Food waste is an environmental concern across the world, with 1.9 million tonnes of food and drink wasted by the food industry in the UK alone, and more than half of it is avoidable. A company has crafted an intelligent bin that could cut down on food waste. The ‘Winnow Vision’ uses a camera and smart scales to recognise and keep track of the food items that are being disposed of. The thinking behind it is that it will help commercial kitchens reduce the amount they purchase and, in doing so, save them money. Students are asked to think of a solution to a food waste issue in their own home and design a product to help overcome this issue. The extension task requires students to carry out some research in to how other designers and engineers have tacked the problem of food waste and evaluate how effective their own solution is. Skills and learning: Imagination Lateral thinking Environmental concerns for the present and future world Real world tasks Drawing and perspective skills Fiscal and economic considerations Annotation and technical drawing

Reuse and Refill - Supermarket reduction of packaging Waitrose is trailing a scheme to reduce product packaging by asking customers to bring in their own reusable containers which they can fill with unpackaged produce such as cereals, fruit and detergent. This cover lesson requires students to examine and design a way for customers to transport their containers to and from the supermarket. The resource includes an extension task which requires students to further examine how Supermarkets can reduce packaging waste. Skills and learning: Imagination Lateral thinking Environmental concerns for the present and future world Real world tasks Drawing and perspective skills Fiscal and economic considerations Annotation and technical drawing

Culture and Society - User Needs Students are asked to examine three people with different user needs - which are complicated by physical challenges – and to design a product that will enable them to carry out a specified activity. The extension task requires students to think about designing a product that will help them or someone they know carry out an activity that they cannot currently perform. Skills and learning: Imagination Lateral thinking Problem solving Consideration of others’ needs Real world problems Drawing and perspective skills Annotation and technical drawing

Anti-Litter Machine – Heath Robinson In this fun lesson students are asked to examine how Heath Robinson’s over engineered Anti-Litter Machine works and design with their own more effective contraptions. The accompanying extension task asks students to research Heath Robinson and to design ‘in the style of’. Skills and learning: Imagination Lateral thinking Types of motion Engineering Drawing and perspective skills Research and interpretation skills Annotation and technical drawing