Active Robots
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2014}}
{{primary|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Active Robots
| logo =
| type = Private
| founder = Antony Lovedale
| foundation = 2002
| hq_location = Chilcompton, Somerset, UK
| products = Robots
Robotics kits
Robot components and accessories
| industry = Robotics
| website = [http://www.active-robots.com www.active-robots.com]
}}
Active Robots is a British company which sells robotics kits, components, accessories and parts.
History
Active Robots was founded in 2002 and incorporated in 2003 by Antony Lovedale and his wife, Maggie.{{cite web|url=http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/04693628|title=URI|publisher=Data.companieshouse.gov.uk|accessdate=18 November 2014}} The company has over 3000 product lines.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}
Active Robots acquired Total Robots in 2009.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}
In 2013, the company created Active8 Robots, which provides robotic research technology to universities in the United Kingdom and Europe with the Baxter research robot and Nao humanoid robot.{{cite web|url=http://www.active8robots.com/case-studies/view/peidong-liang/|title=Baxter Robot University of Plymouth case study|work=Active8 Robots|accessdate=18 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.active8robots.com/case-studies/view/nick-weldin/|title=Middlesex University London's Baxter robot purchase|work=Active8 Robots|accessdate=18 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.active8robots.com/case-studies/view/dr-michael-walters/|title=Baxter robot review by Dr Michael Walters|work=Active8 Robots|accessdate=18 November 2014|archive-date=10 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210202754/https://www.active8robots.com/case-studies/view/dr-michael-walters/|url-status=dead}}
Educational outreach
=Primary and secondary=
Active Robots has been involved in education in the United Kingdom for over 10 years.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}} They have coordinated with education providers such as EDT{{cite web|url=http://www.etrust.org.uk/about-edt|title=About EDT - etrust|website=www.etrust.org.uk|accessdate=13 March 2019}} to promote STEM enrichment.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}} Events such as "Lego Robot Wars" and "Robot Gladiators" have been held in partnership with local educators.{{cite web|url=http://www.active-robots.com/our-blog/active-robots-gladiator-event/|title=Active Robots Gladiator event|work=Active Robots|accessdate=18 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.somersetguardian.co.uk/Lego-gladiators-arena-robot-wars/story-21321338-detail/story.html|title=Lego gladiators take to the arena for robot wars|work=Somerset Guardian|accessdate=18 November 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141119002951/http://www.somersetguardian.co.uk/Lego-gladiators-arena-robot-wars/story-21321338-detail/story.html|archive-date=19 November 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} Active Robots has been called the best provider of robotics in education by the blog Total Education.{{cite web|url=http://www.active-robots.com/our-blog/active-robots-voted-no1-in-education/|title=Active Robots Voted No:1 in Education|work=Active Robots|accessdate=18 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://blogs.terrapinn.com/total-education/2014/10/20/top-5-robotics-companies-education/|title=Top 5 Robotics Companies in Education|publisher=Blogs.terrapinn.com|accessdate=18 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129101419/http://blogs.terrapinn.com/total-education/2014/10/20/top-5-robotics-companies-education/|archive-date=29 November 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} Part of their outreach work has focused on primary school children, particularly girls, introducing them to robotics and engineering at a young age.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}} Over 200 schools worldwide are using the Nao robot.{{cite web|url=http://www.ubifrance.com/uk/Posts-6264-aldebaran-robotics-equips-200-schools-with-nao-robots |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129021227/http://www.ubifrance.com/uk/Posts-6264-aldebaran-robotics-equips-200-schools-with-nao-robots |url-status=dead|archive-date=29 November 2014 |title=Welcome to UBIFRANCE - The French Trade Commission in UK |publisher=Ubifrance.com |accessdate=18 November 2014 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhdiiKkYJPs|title=NAOInSchools|work=YouTube|accessdate=18 November 2014}}
=Higher education=
The Baxter robot is being used in university research and teaching in the UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/glyndwr-university-unveil-2015-robotics-7485098|title=Glyndwr University to unveil 2015 robotics postgraduate|work=northwales|date=23 July 2014 |accessdate=18 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.glyndwr.ac.uk/en/AboutGlyndwrUniversity/Newsandmediacentre/Newsarchive/PressReleases2014/Baxter/|title=Glyndŵr University - Baxter|author=Glyndŵr University|publisher=Glyndwr.ac.uk|accessdate=18 November 2014}} At least 15 universities in the UK have used the Baxter robot.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}
Press
Active Robots products have appeared on The Graham Norton Show,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP9NCMMqxCs|title=Robot Dances Gangnam Style - The Graham Norton Show on BBC AMERICA|work=YouTube|accessdate=18 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.robotguide.com/2014/02/07/aldebaran-robotics-news/nao-robot-graham-norton/|title=NAO robot on Graham Norton|work=robotguide|accessdate=18 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01rxg2n|title=BBC One - The Graham Norton Show, Series 14, Episode 15, Graham plays with a toy robot|work=BBC|accessdate=18 November 2014}} Gadget Man,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llspy-aiVkE|title=Gadget Man - Season 3 Episode 7 - Restaurants|work=YouTube|accessdate=18 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pressat.co.uk/releases/active-robots-appearance-on-gadgetman-show-6d842305e09136a2e7d60eafb5cdbfdf/|title=Active Robots appearance on Gadgetman Show|publisher=Pressat.co.uk|accessdate=18 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/gadget-man/articles/all/cooking-gadgets|title=Cooking gadgets|publisher=Channel4.com|accessdate=18 November 2014}} The Gadget Show{{cite web|url=http://gadgetshow.channel5.com/news/series-20-episode-10-jon-vs-buskers|title=Series 20: Episode 10 - Jon vs Buskers|publisher=Gadgetshow.channel5.com|accessdate=18 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202151041/http://gadgetshow.channel5.com/news/series-20-episode-10-jon-vs-buskers|archive-date=2 December 2014|url-status=dead}} and ITV's Daybreak.{{cite web|url=http://www.somersetguardian.co.uk/TV-presenter-meets-Baxter-highly-intelligent/story-21039190-detail/story.html|title=ITV's Daybreak presenter Richard Gaisford meets Baxter, the highly intelligent robot|work=Somerset Guardian|accessdate=18 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129031820/http://www.somersetguardian.co.uk/TV-presenter-meets-Baxter-highly-intelligent/story-21039190-detail/story.html|archive-date=29 November 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/GMB/status/459229427050618880|title=Good Morning Britain on Twitter|work=Twitter|accessdate=18 November 2014}}