SA robotics youth team does us proud

News

28 June 2023 News

Team Texpand, a Cape Town based community robotics team aged from 13 to 16, has represented South Africa at the FIRST World Robotics Championships in Houston running from 19-22 April. The team won first place in the THINK award which is awarded to the team that demonstrates the best solution to removing engineering obstacles through creative and scientific thinking.

This international event is an annual celebration of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) for all youth and results in fun preparation for young people looking towards a career in these fields. The competitions centred around a game that is played by robots, with each team scoring points by their programmed robot picking up cup sized cones and placing them on poles of different heights. In each match, two teams were randomly chosen to collaborate and devise a strategy on how their robots would play the game to win against the other two opposing robots.

In both the Western Cape regional and the SA national competitions, Texpand won the top award for the best team. The criteria included:

• Creative engineering and problem solving.

• Innovative design of the gripper system.

• Multiple sensors to improve robot control.

• Volunteering more than 60 hours of training disadvantaged students in programming, mechanics and mathematics.

The team of Texpand did the country proud by being ranked 25th out of 192 championship teams. Ethan Buckle, the founding member of Texpand, explains their philosophy: “From the start we had our sights set on being the best SA team and qualifying for Worlds. We spent years watching the best teams in the world compete and showcase their robots. It was incredible to get the opportunity to see our hero teams compete in person and to meet and learn from them. Our initial goal was to make sure that we didn’t embarrass ourselves and look like we didn’t belong there.”

The Durban branch of the SAIMC made a donation towards Team Texpand’s costs, and challenges all other branches of the SAIMC to do the same in 2024. Texpand is always looking to partner with companies that are committed to expanding STEM skills in South Africa.

Share this article:

Strengthening industry through strategic partnerships at KITE 2025
Specialised Exhibitions News
The KwaZulu-Natal Industrial Technology Exhibition is not just an exhibition, it is a powerhouse of industry collaboration where visitors and exhibitors gain access to authoritative insights, technical expertise, and high-impact networking opportunities.

Read more...

Solar Youth Project calls on industry to step up
News
With the second cohort completed training and the first cohort returning for their final module, host companies are urgently needed to turn the training into a long-term opportunity.

Read more...

Conlog powers SA’s future with national smart meter rollout
News
Conlog recently secured the RT29-2024 contract from National Treasury, which is seen to be a major milestone towards modernising SA’s utility infrastructure.

Read more...

Zuchongzhi-3 sets new benchmark
News
This latest superconducting quantum computing prototype features 105 qubits and 182 couplers to operate at a speed 10¹5 times faster than the most powerful supercomputer currently available.

Read more...

Automatic device attestation certificate for Panasonic
News
DigiCert recently announced it has partnered with Panasonic Industry Europe to integrate DigiCert Device Trust Manager with Panasonic’s PAN-MaX intelligent manufacturing service for seamless Matter certification of interoperable smart home devices.

Read more...

From the editor's desk: Are we really being ripped off?
Technews Publishing News
To the surprise of many customers, installing solar panels does not always eliminate their utility bill – and in some cases, the power utility may impose additional charges on solar-powered homes.

Read more...

Winner of the Advanced Electronics Challenge
Avnet Silica News
Avnet Silica has named Hydronauten winner of the Advanced Electronics Challenge for breakthrough AI-driven vibration damping technology.

Read more...

Categories

News

SA robotics youth team does us proud

Further reading:

Publications by Technews