ST2 Scheme of work: Intelligence in Motion. Year 8 (6 Lessons)

From theory to action - how real machines think, move, and respond

A complete 6-lesson KS3 Computer Systems scheme that takes students inside the logic of modern automation - from delivery robots and drone swarms to smart warehouses and robotic exosuits.

Building on ST1, this scheme deepens students’ understanding of how processors, RAM, logic gates, and embedded software interact under pressure.
They don’t just learn about components - they model system behaviour: testing CPU timing, debugging control flow, and optimising memory in real-time scenarios.

Perfect for:

• Non-specialist teachers delivering structured, applied computing with confidence

• Subject leads building on system modelling to explore automation, logic flow, and performance

• High-ability learners - with full support for mixed-ability classroom access

• Schools aiming to connect computing theory to robotics, embedded control, and intelligent automation

• Departments preparing students for future study in systems, AI, and digital technologies

   

Why this matters

Modern systems don’t just store data - they move, respond, and react in real time.
To understand how, students need more than definitions. They need to see how logic, memory, software, and hardware interact under pressure.

This scheme gives them that insight.

From simulating drone decisions with logic gates to managing warehouse memory with OS scheduling, each lesson builds a complete picture of how intelligent systems process data, control motion, and stay synchronised with their environments.

Students learn to model processor load, trace instruction timing, and identify where - and why — system breakdowns occur. They leave not just knowing how components work, but how they work together to control machines in the real world.

🔍 This is where computing meets control — and where systems thinking takes shape.

Lesson structure & progression

Each lesson introduces a real-time robotic or automated system, then breaks down how it works using processor logic, memory flow, and embedded software.

Lesson titles and focus:

1. Obstacle-Avoiding Drone Systems
   Input Devices, Logic Gates (AND/OR/NOT), ALU
   Model real-time movement control using binary input and ALU-based decision systems.

2. Delivery Robot Navigation and Safety
   IPO Logic, Application Software, Sensor Integration, IoT (WAN)
   Simulate delivery routes using sensor data and wide-area network signals to drive robot safety logic.

3. Controlling a Drone Swarm Light Show
   Output Devices, Multicore Processing, Clock Speed
   Coordinate multicore processor loads to keep drone output synchronised in a real-time simulation.

4. Warehouse Automation & Conveyor AI
   Embedded Systems, OS Scheduling, Memory Management
   Manage conveyor control and robotic arms under OS scheduling rules — resolving clashes and memory limitations.

5. Precision Robotics and Real-Time Control
   CPU Performance, Cache, Instruction Speed
   Debug a time-critical robot failure by calculating execution times and cache access patterns.

6. Exoskeletons and Industrial Robotic Control
   RAM, Embedded Processing, Systems Software
   Break down how RAM and embedded software manage safe motion in wearable robotic systems.

What you get

All resources are classroom-ready - no coding, no additional tech, no preparation stress.

6 structured, inspection-ready lesson plans
PowerPoint presentations with fully scripted teacher notes
Custom offline simulations and reasoning tasks
Printable student activities with model answers and vocabulary support
Built-in SEND scaffolds and full classroom adaptation guides
Optional cover lesson versions for independent delivery
Scheme Inspection Report (intent, implementation, and impact)

Built-in for inspection - without extra workload

Every ST2 scheme includes a full inspection report covering:

• Curriculum Intent – Ambitious sequencing, system logic, and applied computing focus

• Implementation – Clear delivery model, structured resources, and inclusive access

• Impact – Evidence of technical progression, reasoning skills, and applied understanding

• Inclusion & Accessibility – Adaptation strategies, equitable pathways, and cultural capital

Gives subject leaders full confidence to demonstrate high-quality computing provision.

Why this scheme works

Real-world relevance
Students explore the logic behind robotics, automation, and intelligent control - from drones to warehouses to medical exosuits.

High engagement
Every lesson is driven by simulation and diagnostic challenge - where students test, trace, calculate, and improve live system performance.

Teacher-ready
Structured plans, scripted slides, and built-in scaffolds make delivery simple - even for non-specialists.

Future-focused
Equips learners with applied system reasoning and technical depth - ideal preparation for engineering, AI, and real-world computing pathways.