Mars robotics competition winner stays down to earth
Saiestha Govender was recently selected for the Intro to Mechatronics (i2M) competition where she was selected as the overall winner in South Africa.
WHILE the Mars Exploration Rover mission, which is an ongoing robotic space venture involving two robots, Spirit and Opportunity, exploring the planet Mars is etching its name as it cuts a historic path across the red planet, an equally impressive feat was being made in Houghton, Johannesburg.
This after Glenhills resident and Danville Park Girls’ High School learner, Saiestha Govender, was chosen as the overall winner of a robotic competition building a scaled down, movable Mars Rover.
In September, the school was selected to be part of an Intro to Mechatronics (i2M) course, powered by GE Africa. Around 600 students across 30 schools in five provinces received physical robotics kits. The learners had to create a Mars Rover robot using the basic items found in the kit and recyclable materials. The learners were also given software to program these robots to move.
Govender besides being selected as the overall winner also won a Makerbot 3D printer for herself and one for the school.
Read Also-Danville Girls’ shine as the school celebrates half a century of excellence
“I was very fortunate to be part of the finalists and I didn’t think I’d win the competition. I had travelled up to Johannesburg a week before for a workshop and there was only a fraction of the learners involved in the competition. A few people complimented me on how I modified the kit to build my robot but I still didn’t think anything of it. When they announced my name as the winner I was really excited and proud of my achievements,” she said.
Govender, added lights, larger wheels using plasic pipes and a GoPro camera which provided a live feed while out on the competition.
“We were given an option of two courses where the rover had to navigate around. I chose the harder one for more of a challenge. The motherboard and programme which they gave to us had to be reprogrammed for the course which was a challenge but an exciting one at that,” she said.
Besides her love for making things, Saiestha, is also a member of the KZN Junior A Maths team. In December she will be travelling to Stellenbosch in the hopes of making the South African Junior Maths team.
Read also: KZN’s top pupil hails from Sunningdale
Do you want to receive news alerts for the Durban North and uMhlanga areas via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname (only) to 060 532 5532.
For more news follow us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also follows us Instagram.
