STEM is very much alive in school

In an effort to promote STEM education, the National Robotics Competition (Selangor State Level), organised by the Ministry of Education and SASBADI, and managed by the Selangor Education Department in corporation with UTAR, was held at UTAR Sungai Long Campus. The event, held from 21 to 22 August 2023, saw the participation of both primary and secondary school students.

A team of students; namely, Merrissa Lee Kai Wen, Chua Ming Jun and Wong Hong Yu from Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Pin Hwa (1) exhibited their project at the event. Their project titled “Project Z: Oceanic Navigation Assistance System” offers a suite of advanced features, including real-time hazard detection, route optimisation, and global connectivity. It empowers ships to navigate safely and efficiently while minimising their environmental impact.

The students were actively engaged in various aspects of their robotics project, which included conducting research, writing scripts, and brainstorming ideas. According to the team, the research component played a crucial role in shaping the primary direction of the project. The phase, however, was also the most demanding aspect, requiring guidance from teachers, parents, and coaches, even though the students had their own concepts initially. Additionally, the scripting stage enabled them to showcase their programming skills, as they skillfully developed intricate code for their robot’s functionality. Furthermore, the students were given the chance to develop skills beyond robotics, such as communication skills, critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, and teamwork.

The team said, “We believe that creativity becomes the focal point as we strive to avoid imitating existing models. Instead, we focused on building a robot that is uniquely our own.” They also added, “We aim to explore additional platforms for showcasing and spreading our concept. Our goal is to keep motivating others with our project, with the aspiration of playing a role in improving the future of global cargo shipping and navigation.”

Catered for students driven by a passion for science and engineering, the event aimed to offer them a platform to channel their enthusiasm into creating functional and innovative robotic projects.

From left: Merrissa Lee Kai Wen, Chua Ming Jun and Wong Hong Yu

Banner of the competition