FOUR young robotics enthusiasts from Ibn Al Khuldoon National School will take part in a regional challenge today at the Carnegie Mellon University, in Qatar.
In its sixth year, the Regional Botball Robotics Challenge sees high school students competing against each other with their manually built robots in a non-destructive tournament.
The team of students, from grade six to eight, left for Qatar yesterday with their computer science teacher Mazen Nouiehed.
"The school signed up for the tournament to add to our existing curriculum," said Mr Nouiehad.
"There was a need to give students hands-on experience so that they can learn the fundamentals of computer languages better."
The Botball competition, organised by non-profit educational organisation KISS Institute for Practical Robotics (KIPR), operates on a four-season basis.
This includes the Winter season, when educator workshops are held for specialists and team leaders who are told about the latest developments in robotics technology and given the necessary kit to come up with a functional robot of their own.
"I attended the workshop last year. It was the first time Bahrain had participated in a workshop of this sort," said Mr Nouiehad.
"I think Bahrain is ready for robotics tournaments of this sort. We're considering implementing robotics as part of the curriculum.
"We're planning to have classes for two or three months ahead of future tournaments so that students are well prepared.
"There have been a lot of positive changes in the four students since they became part of this.
"They have developed critical thinking and are better able to understand computer science.
"I think the tournament is a wonderful way to combine team work and skills to rekindle interest in robotics."
The students said they were excited to be taking part in the competition.
"When we were told our school will be taking part, I signed up for it immediately," said 14-year-old Meshal Al Mannai.
"We filled up the forms and underwent a rigorous selection process to be chosen.
"Mr Nouiehad got back from the workshop with a huge bag, full of metal pieces that KIPR had sent us.
"Over a period of six weeks, we got together for two hours every Saturday to assemble and programme the robot.
"We had everything required to build it. We've designed it to look a little sporty."
The tournament involves a seeding round that is followed by a double elimination round and ends with an awards ceremony.
The four Bahrain students are set to compete against 30 high schools from Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Zimbabwe.
The seeding round involves a gruelling session, where the robot's skills are tested in a competitive game.
"The game is quite simple. The robot has to pick up rubber ducks and drop them in a box," said seventh graders Mahmood Ellithy.
"The trick is to programme it so well that it picks up many ducks in a short span of time.
"The robot even has sensors to detect the colour black so that it can selectively pick black ducks.
"Once all the ducks have been picked, the robot moves to capture the 'Botboy' - a small toy in the centre.
"Once that is accomplished, you are free to seize and carry away your opponents' ducks which add to your score points."
The students said they were determined to showcase their robotics skills and reach a good position.
Copyright 2010 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group
'Challenge for robotics fans', Gulf Daily News, April 23, 2010, Jennifer Gnana
No comments:
Post a Comment