STUDENTS from The Castle School in Thornbury had some unusual friends join them this week.

They were amazed and inspired after spending time with NAO humanoid robots Antony and Ben.

NAO, developed by Alderbaran robotics, is used worldwide as an educational platform. Initially designed for robotic research in Universities, NAO is now heading into primary and secondary schools.

Charly and Joanne from Active Robots, based in Chilcompton in Somerset, brought Anthony and Ben along to demonstrate how robots are developing within industry and the endless future influences they may have.

After being wowed by what Antony and Ben could do, students had the opportunity to programme the robots themselves.

Year 7 student Robert Bossey said: “I thought the workshop was amazing. It was amazing to see what people have created. Maybe in the future this kind of thing would be normal and who knows what we will have in the future. The robots were also very sweet – especially when they did Gangham style.”

The event, with support from Wotton-under-Edge engineering firm Renishaw, was organised to promote and to highlight the future of technology.

Simonne Watts from Renishaw said: “Antony and Ben certainly sparked the students interest in subjects including programming skills.”