During the Spring vacation, SGCS sent twenty robotic teams to compete in the RoboCup Junior Australia Open National Championships in Melbourne. The teams were supported by SGCS staff, Mrs Karen Binns, Mr Wilson Cheng, and Mrs Adrienne Erwin.
Mrs Karen Binns, SGCS IT Teacher/Integrator and Robotics Coordinator said:
Our School’s robotics team had a blast! RoboCup Junior is an international educational initiative that encourages young people to learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through robotics. There were more than 600 students competing along with numerous officials, families and visitors. The competition is based on the following principles:
- Education: RoboCup Junior aims to educate young people about robotics and STEM concepts.
- Fair play: RoboCup Junior promotes fair play and teamwork.
- Fun: RoboCup Junior is a fun and engaging experience for students of all ages and levels of experience.
Our students had the opportunity to compete in a variety of events at the RoboCup Junior competition, including:
- Rescue Line: Students programmed their robots to follow a line and rescue victims from a simulated disaster zone.
- OnStage: Students choreographed a performance for their robots, which included music, dancing, and storytelling.
Our students learned a lot about teamwork, engineering, and problem-solving during our competition season. They also had the opportunity to meet and collaborate with other students from all over the country.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude and thanks to the parents and families there with us, giving support and encouragement to the teams. I would also like to thank Mr Cheng and Mrs Erwin for their invaluable assistance to our students and to the running of the competition. We are so proud of our robotics team for their hard work and dedication. We are excited to see what they accomplish next!
Whilst most of our teams placed in the top half of their division, there were several exceptional results including Reilly Smithers (Year 12) and Bain Changson (Year 9) for becoming the 2023 National Champions for Open Line Rescue! This award is even more impressive, considering that they also won the NSW State Championships in August 2023. Reilly and Bain will now have the opportunity to represent Australia in the International RoboCup Junior Championships in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, in July 2024.
Congratulations! We are so proud of Reilly and Bain for their hard work and dedication. They are a shining example of what can be achieved when you set your mind to something.
Report: Mrs Karen Binns, SGCS IT Teacher/Integrator and Robotics Coordinator
Top 10 Results
Open Line Rescue:
1st and National Champions: Stack Overflow: Bain Changson (Year 9) and Reilly Smithers (Year 12)
5th: Wet Lettuce: Landon Aitken-Ling, William D’Olier and Toby McFall (Year 9)
9th: M.E.: Ethan Cheng and Micaiah Hu (Year 9)
OnStage Open:
4th Overall: Jungle Cruise: Nara Bradley, Charli Kwong, Rachel Yang and Jacinda Zhang (Year 9). This team placed 2nd in the 14+ group and as a result have been offered a reserve place to represent Australia in 2024.
OnStage Novice:
5th: Greg the Egg: Dania Creek, Elise McFall, and Gloria Nguyen (Year 7)
