{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1565811"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1565811/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NL2709/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NL2709/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2023NL2709","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2023NL2710","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2023NL2708","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1565811","accessionNumber":"B.65-2022","objectType":"Robot","titles":[{"title":"The Valiant Turtle","type":"manufacturer's title"},{"title":"Logo Turtle","type":"alternative title"}],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"The robot is shaped like a turtle with a translucent green plastic 'shell’ (through which the board and wires are visible), a  beige plastic 'body’ with red LED eyes. The base has a silver authetication sticker on which the serial number is written. \r\n\r\nThe turtle is accompanied by a box containing: \r\n\r\n-Two protractors, \r\n-A Verex Minidisk containing the Valiant Turtle Software, \r\n-A green paper leaflet called ‘How to use your valiant turtle with the BBC Micro Computer’, \r\n-A typed sheet of instructions headed ‘Starting the valiant turtle with LSL Logo’. \r\n\r\nThe acquisition did not include any of the pens which would have been installed in the base of the turtle.   ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Caitlin, Dave","id":"AUTH399558"},"association":{"text":"Designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"plastic","id":"AAT14570"},{"text":"metal","id":"AAT10900"},{"text":"electrical components","id":"x36640"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"cardboard","id":"AAT14224"},{"text":"foam","id":"AAT14639"},{"text":"","id":""}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Learning (development) toys","id":"THES274383"},{"text":"Digital Design","id":"THES273936"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"YVA","id":"THES48593"},"images":["2023NL2709","2023NL2710","2023NL2708"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"CA003","id":"THES388362"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR021","id":"THES341293"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR021","id":"THES341293"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR021","id":"THES341293"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR021","id":"THES341293"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR021","id":"THES341293"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR021","id":"THES341293"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"tops (toys)","id":"AAT180400"}],[{"text":"boxes","id":"x44081"}],[{"text":"Minidisk","id":""}],[{"text":"Leaflet","id":"AAT211825"}],[{"text":"Tool","id":"AAT24841"}],[{"text":"Tool","id":"AAT24841"}],[{"text":"Instructions","id":"AAT27042"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"United Kingdom","id":"x29336"},"association":{"text":"Manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"United Kingdom","id":"x29336"},"association":{"text":"Designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1983","earliest":"1983-01-01","latest":"1983-12-31"},"association":{"text":"Designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"139","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Turtle","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"247","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Turtle","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"260","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Turtle","note":"dims for turtle only. Box dims: 245X170X30."}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"In general terms turtles are an educational class of robot developed from research undertaken by William Grey Walter in  the 1940s that have been used in various forms of computer science and engineering training, which due to their simplicity  and affordability became popular with robotics hobbyists.  \r\n\nHowever, turtle robots are most closely associated with the work of Seymour Papert and the programming language Logo  that he developed with Wally Feurzeig and Cynthia Solomon at MIT in 1967. Although considered a general-purpose  programming language, Logo was mainly used in an educational context often used to produce turtle graphics. Turtle  graphics are vector-based images produced either on screen or physically drawn by small robots known as turtles. Instead  of using Cartesian, or x,y coordinate based geometry, Logo allows the turtle to move using commands that are relative to  its own position, such as move forwards a set amount, or rotate 90 degrees clockwise. This type of logic is supported by  constructionism learning theory and mimics how children’s spatial awareness develops.  \r\n\nWorking in the fields of artificial intelligence and learning theory, Seymour Papert’s (1928-2016) theories on constructionist  learning (based on Jean Piaget earlier theories on constructivism) promoted learner-centred discovery. Constructionist  learning advocated for students to use what they already knew to acquire more knowledge, as opposed to learning through  didactic instruction or rote repetition. \r\n\r\nThe Valiant Logo Turtle is an educational robot designed to utilise Logo. It was designed by Dave Catlin and produced by  Valiant Technology. Although many sources claim the product was produced between 1983-20112, the website for Valiant  Technology states that the company wasn’t founded until April 1985 by Tom Stonier (an American professor who opened  and headed the School of Science and Technology at the University of Bradford in England) and Dave Catlin (a freelance  engineering designer, who was inspired by the work of Papert and the philosophy behind Logo). The Valiant Turtle was the  first product they launched and moved much more accurately than similar types of robot, making it particularly well suited to  drawing the geometric shapes and patterns synonymous with Logo graphics. The affordability and simplicity of the robot  saw it become a popular addition to classroom in the UK and US during the 1990s. \r\n\t \r\nValiant went on to release un updated turtle called the Roamer. While previous logo turtles were programmed from a  computer – with the early versions requiring a constant wire connecting them to one – the Roamer took a simplified version  of Logo and put it inside the turtle, added some basics keypad controls and the Roamer was freed from the computer.  \r\n\r\nIn 2002, Valiant was awarded the prestigious “Queen’s Award for Innovation” in recognition of its track record in creative  and useful educational product designs. \r\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Learning toy and accessories, 'The Valiant Turtle' by Dave Caitlin, designed 1983, plastic with electronic components in cardboard box","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"turtles","id":"x31555"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"<b>Coding with robots </b>\r\n\r\nTurtle robots have been used since the 1940s to teach coding. The development of a programming language called LOGO in the late 1960s widened access, as users could now type simple commands to move the turtle and create drawings. \n\r\nCubetto introduces younger users to coding through a simple wooden robot. Using physical blocks, they can recreate programming concepts like functions and routines. \n\n<b>13 LOGO Turtle </b>\r\nDesigner: Valiant Designs Ltd \r\nDate: 1983 \r\nLocation: England \r\nMaterials: Plastic, metal, electronics \r\nMuseum no. B.65-2022 \n\r\n<b>14 Cubetto Playset </b>\r\nDesigner: Primo \r\nDate: 2016 \r\nLocation: Designed UK, manufactured China \r\nMaterials: Wood, plastic, electronics \r\nMuseum no. B.63-2022 \n\n[Young V&amp;A, Design gallery, Design helps us to learn, group object label] ","date":{"text":"01/07/2023","earliest":"2023-07-01","latest":"2023-07-01"}}],"partNumbers":["B.65:1-2022","B.65:2-2022","B.65:3-2022","B.65:4-2022","B.65:5-2022","B.65:6-2022","B.65:7-2022"],"accessionNumberNum":"65","accessionNumberPrefix":"B","accessionYear":2022,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2022NH3393"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-11-14","recordCreationDate":"2021-01-14","availableToBook":false}}