Learning robotics: a review

Purpose of Review: With the growing interest for STEM/STEAM, new robotic platforms are being created with different characteristics, extras and options. There are so many diverse solutions, that it is difficult for a teacher/student to choose the ideal one. This paper intends to provide an analysis to the most common robotic platforms existent on the market. The same is happening regarding robotic events all around the world, with objectives so distinctive, and with complexity from easy to very difficult. This paper also describes some of those events which occur in many countries. Recent Findings: As the literature is showing, there has been a visible effort from schools and educators to teach robotics from very young ages, not only because robotics is the future, but also as a tool to teach STEM/STEAM areas. But as time progresses, the options for the right platforms also evolves making difficult to choose among them. Some authors opt to first choose a robotic platform and carry on from there. Others choose first a development environment and then look for which robots can be programmed from it. Summary: An actual review on learning robotics is here presented, firstly showing some literature background on history and trends of robotic platforms used in education in general, the different development environments for robotics and finishing on competitions and events. A comprehensive characterization list of robotic platforms along with robotic competitions and events is also shown

Self-Reported Forensic Histories Among Patients Admitted to an Acute Psychiatric Unit

This study was undertaken to investigate the rates of forensic histories of people admitted to an acute psychiatric unit, in the public mental health system of South Australia. The study was conducted using individual interviews by research team members, relying on self‐report of forensic contact Data were collected from 83% of the patients admitted to the unit over a three month period (n = 119). The study shows a high number (24%) of patients admitted to an acute ward had charges pending and 36% admitted to previous convictions. Some of the charges and convictions appeared to relate to behaviour which had occurred as a result of mental illness. There was a significant association between substance abuse, impending court cases and previous convictions. © 1999 Taylor ‖ Francis Group, LLC

Violence, self-harm, victimisation and homelessness in patients admitted to an acute inpatient unit in South Australia

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, Vol. 49, No. 2, 112-118 © 2003 SAGE PublicationsObjectives: To measure the incidence of traumatic and potentially socially disruptive events prior to admission to a psychiatric hospital. Method: One hundred and nineteen patients were interviewed and further information was obtained from case notes. Data were collected concerning rates of violence, self-harm, threats of violence or self-harm, physical assault and homelessness. Results: The patients' mean age was 35 years, 70% were male and 77% were currently single. More than half were legally detained. The most common diagnoses were substance abuse disorders, schizophrenia and related psychoses and mood disorders. Eighteen per cent of patients were physically violent at the time of admission. They were more likely to have a diagnosis of substance abuse. Significantly more men (30%) than women (8%) made threats of violence. Eighteen per cent of patients had physically harmed themselves. Significantly more women (70%) than men (40%) had threatened to harm themselves. Eight per cent of patients had been physically assaulted prior to admission. Twenty-seven per cent of patients were homeless. Conclusion: These patients were severely disabled with high rates of comorbidity. Socially disruptive behaviours were common, and almost a quarter of the patients were homeless. This study highlights the need for development of targeted services in the community.David Ash, John Haynes, Peter Braben, and Cherrie Galletl