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Pythagoras Academy (Jayden, Terence, Megan, Ethan, Mark, Curtis) working hard with coach John from RoboPlanets and teacher Angela.
Photo submitted
Local teams excel in robotics competitions
We are hearing more and more
that “the robots are coming.”
Many people are increasingly
worried their jobs will be automated and replaced by robots.
The future of work is a hot topic
these days with many debating the impacts that new technologies like artificial
intelligence and robotics will have on jobs, skills and wages. Experts are
warning that B.C. must invest more in STEM skills (Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math) in order to prepare the workforce for future jobs that
haven’t been invented yet.
In the meantime, there is a huge
gender gap in the current tech workforce, with only an estimated 20 per cent of
the tech workforce comprising women.
Luckily, we have here in Richmond
a group of amazingly smart and talented kids ages six to 18 who have decided to
get ahead of the curve.
They’re not worried about their
future jobs getting automated. Instead, they’re building the robots of the
future. These three teams of students from across Richmond have been working
hard this year with their coaches preparing for provincial robotics
competitions organized by FIRST Robotics B.C., a non-profit associated with
FIRST (firstinspires.org, stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of
Science and Technology”), an international robotics organization founded in the
U.S. over 30 years ago. FIRST runs four different robotics competitions all
around the world, with a participation of over 615,000 students from more than
100 countries this past year.
B.C. saw 140 teams participate
this year in 11 provincial competitions. And the numbers are growing.
The Richmond Robotics teams are
from Burnett Secondary, Pythagoras Academy and Daedalos Academy. The Burnett
team has eight high school students competing in the FIRST Robotics Competition
for Grades 10 to 12.
The Burnett team won at the
provincials held in Victoria, which had B.C. Premier John Horgan as special
guest. The Daedalos Academy team—Forces of the Galaxy—are in the FIRST LEGO
League for ages 9 to 14 and also won at the provincials.
The six team members from a
variety of schools, including three from Richmond, build robots out of LEGO
Mindstorms Technic parts and motors, and must research and present this year on
a solution for human space travel.
The team from Pythagoras Academy,
FIRST LEGO League Junior taught by coaches from Roboplanet, are ages 6 to 10
and will be presenting a project on finding water and energy sources on the
moon.
Thanks to all their hard work
designing, building and coding their robots, 3D printing parts, solving complex
mathematical equations and algorithms in order to perfect their robot
performance, these teams have now been invited to represent B.C. and
participate in the FIRST World Championships hosted in Houston Texas from April
17 to 20.
“FIRST’s mandate is to inspire
tomorrow’s innovators”, says Barish Golland, FIRST Senior Mentor for B.C. “With
the support of our sponsors, FIRST Robotics programs help influence, nurture
and guide the best young minds to support and encourage the next generation of
leaders.”
•For more information contact
bgolland@firstinspires.org or click.
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