INVENTIVE: Tynan (left) and Aden Fuller with their computerised Leggo creation, Sparky, the educational guide dog. Picture: David Quick
COORANBONG brothers Tynan and Aden Fuller love dogs but don't have one of their own to race in circles chasing its tail.
So they created one using Leggo building blocks instead of nature's own.
Tynan, 9, is already a showman and muso known for his impressions of the Blues Brothers, poetry reading at Morisset Poetry Festival, and being a full dress town crier at the region's annual community day last year.
He and Aden are also inventors and enthusiastic computer buffs, so it comes as no surprise that the brothers were quick to enter the Queensland-based SAP Young ICT Explorers competition when it was recently expanded to include NSW in partnership with NSW University.
"We decided to build a dog for the competition because we don't have one of our own," Aden, 11, said.
Using hi-tech Leggo, the boys built "Sparky", only this is no ordinary canine.
"Sparky is an educational guide dog designed to help young children," Aden explained.
Controlled by a Mindstorm core unit coupled to servos, and geared electric motors, the boys programmed Sparky to play the educational game Simon Says.
"Sparky automatically demonstrates pre-programmed movements to the children and barks instructions through a tiny loudspeaker built into his body that they should follow," Aden said.
"I have also written and produced a 40-second computer-generated commercial, a movie showing what Sparky does and why he does it," Tynan said.
The boys were recently invited to a mentoring session with former Australian cricket captain Mark Taylor to demonstrate their project, a treat for competitors organised by SAP.
Judging of entries takes place at the uni this Saturday.