The IET Devon and Cornwall local network joined the Devon and Cornwall IMechE at the Robey Trust Sausage and Cider Weekend in Tavistock, Devon on the weekend of the 25th and 26th of October. This was a great opportunity for the many local and not so local people attending the event to meet the IET and IMechE, and for members to meet some of the local network committee.
The Robey Trust is a Tavistock based charity dedicated to the preservation, restoration, operation and display of steam vehicles, and other historic engines, especially items manufactured by Robey & Co Ltd of Lincoln. The event is an annual weekend event, which attracts between 500 and 1000 people, offering a chance to see working steam engines and rides, as well as some excellent catering, particularly local sausages and cider.
For the IET, it was a chance to fly our flag, and meet the people attending the event, and give the opportunity to show off new technology alongside steam. Michael Gornall and Rob Scarr from the Devon and Cornwall IET were showing off a range of small robots and computer based technology with Edison and MicroBit robots, and computer technology using Raspberry Pi and Arduino computers along with M5Stack peripheral devices. There was considerable interest in the technology on show, particularly from younger visitors.
The IET was not the only exhibitor showing off high tech. One exhibitor had a hand cranked barrel organ, which normally would play a tune based on a paper strip with perforations, but a bit of modern technology allowed the tune to be selected from a list on a mobile phone, with the paper strip replaced by solenoid valve control, sent from the mobile phone via Bluetooth.
The event was an excellent opportunity to introduce so many people to the IET alongside older technology, live music and good food and drink.
Rob Scarr IET Community Activity Organiser and Trustee of Firefly Robotics Educational Charity
Firefly Education 
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