Ohbot and Picoh: Educational Programmable Robot Heads

Ohbot and Picoh; programmable social robots

Program using blocks with the Ohbot app, Scratch or Python.

Develop computational thinking using curriculum linked learning activities.

We're delighted that Picoh has been awarded Highly Commended in the Primary Resource including ICT category at the UK Education Resource Awards 2022.  - Dan and Mat

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Just showed Y6 Ohbot. Whole class gave it a spontaneous round of applause! Can't remember a text book getting that reaction! Peter Johnson, Leader of Teaching and Learning for Computing, Gosforth Junior High Academy, Newcastle, UK​

Ohbot is a wonderfully engaging robot head that you can program through a 'scratch like' programming language.
Richard Smith, Amazing ICT, Advisor, UK

​You should do some engineering and making, we love that. We built an Ohbot robot.
​Robyn Y4 

The judges felt that Ohbot’s programmable Robot Head extended the notion of coding and contextualised it into the finer nuances of the human face and movement in a really unique and exciting way! Excellent free online resources including simulator ensure the product is affordable. Great potential for SEND too.
Educational Resources Award Judging Panel

​Curriculum

The students have been really enthused by the work, while at the same time learning about concepts like variables, user inputs, mathematical operators and Booleans. Since using Ohbot I have noticed the pupils can write and use much more complex programs than before, and seeing the effects of their code on the movements of the robot is really rewarding and engaging.
Peter Johnson, Leader of Teaching and Learning for Computing, Gosforth Junior High Academy, Newcastle, UK

Teach yourself to code Ohbot and Picoh by following a course and working through puzzles and projects. 

​Teach others with inspiring and easy to follow curriculum linked lessons for Ohbot and Picoh.

Learn through play. Magpie these programs, run, modify, or use as ingredients in your own concoctions.     

​Picoh and Ohbot

My interest is in the process of invention of “objects-to-think-with,” objects in which there is an intersection of cultural presence, embedded knowledge, and the possibility for personal identification. 
Seymour Papert, Mindstorms

Speaking and Listening

Ohbot and Picoh are both able to speak and recognise speech in many languages.
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To find out more about languages supported please click here.

​"Sheldon [Ohbot] combines computational thinking with skills in literature in a really motivating way . As soon as the children knew that the rant was for a robot to speak they couldn’t get it written fast enough. That doesn’t happen in all English lessons! They are learning two kinds of language simultaneously – English and computer code"
Jo Hodge, Computing Master teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes, Southport, UK ​

Ohbot oh the possibilities with the new windows 10s this Microsoft Innovative Educator is so excited.
Jennifer Morgan, NCCE Professional Learning Specialist. DSD School Technology Specialist, Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert & Microsoft Master Trainer, US

​J adore l'ohbot. J'en parle sur @Humanoides_FR
Jerome Damelincourt, Fondateur de Robopolis, passionné par les robots, l'intelligence artificielle, et les sciences cognitives, je vis mes rêves de robots, FR

​Sheldon [Ohbot] combines computational thinking with skills in literature in a really motivating way . As soon as the children knew that the rant was for a robot to speak they couldn’t get it written fast enough. That doesn’t happen in all English lessons! They are learning two kinds of language simultaneously – English and computer code
Jo Hodge, Computing Master teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes, Southport, UK

It's definitely a very interesting and unique bit of kit. 
4/5 stars MagPi magazine Feb 2018

​Through working on this particular [Ohbot] project they’ve also had the chance to appreciate the subject matter, not just about computer coding and modelling but the wider issues across our economy and society in general.
Carl Simmons, Computing at School Regional Coordinator at Edge Hill University, UK

Our children absolutely love Ohbot
Dan Johnson, 2014 Pearson Award Winning Teaching Assistant, Pupil and Family Engagement Officer and digital leader co-ordinator, Millbrook Primary School, UK

​This is nice engaging robot that comes with a user-friendly programming language. The finished robot reminds me a bit of Cynthia Breazeal’s Kismet robot from MIT in the 1990s. So this might also be a good introduction to the area of social robotics.
Dr Scott Turner, Lecturer in Computing University of Northampton, Pi Cert Educator, Code Club leader. Member IET, BCS, UK

Our Year 7s loved the Ohbot software. One said that he'd never seen anything like it, couldn't believe computer science was so much fun.
Kay Simmons, Raspberry Pi Certified Educator, Faculty Leader Computing and ICT in Northamptonshire, UK

Some of the most exciting stuff we're seeing plugged into Windows…
Terry Myerson, Executive Vice President of Windows and Devices Group Microsoft. Windows 10 S launch.

Ohbot oh the possibilities with the new windows 10s this Microsoft Innovative Educator is so excited.
Jennifer Morgan,  Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert & Microsoft Master Trainer, US

​Terry Myerson using Ohbot at the Windows 10 S Launch

​Ohbots dance with children in the BBC's What if... robots replaced teachers film

​Through working on this particular [Ohbot] project they’ve also had the chance to appreciate the subject matter, not just about computer coding and modelling but the wider issues across our economy and society in general.
Carl Simmons, Computing at School Regional Coordinator at Edge Hill University, UK