A team of scientifically gifted boys invented a robot that has given them the opportunity to showcase their creation at international robot competition.
Team captain Leander Jacobs (17) of Randpark Ridge, Paul Olivier (15) of Bergbron, Dian van Brakel (15) of Johannesburg South and Wynand Wehmeyer (15) of Noordheuwe, form part of a robot invention team, called the Dragons. The team take part in robotics, an after school activity which takes place at Helpmekaar College, in Braamfotein. According to Leanders’ mother, Maranta Jacobs, the team name, dragons, was the previous theme for the annual First Lego League Competition, which was Nature’s Fury. She said, the team kept the name, because the members believe they are as fierce and fearless as a dragon.
The dragons have been invited to attend the World Robofest, an annual robotics festival and competition designed to promote and support science, engineering, technology and mathematics. The festival will be place in Michigan, in the United States of America, from 12 until 17 May. The invitation came after they recently won the South African senior division Robofest for high school pupils, hosted by North-West University, Vaal Campus.
Top United States and international teams compete annually in the Robofest, in a variety of competitions and events with robots which are programmed to act independently without a remote control. The competitors must design, build and program robots using any type of material.
Maranta stated that in a quest to keep up with international developments, their coaches Pieter and Zelda Pretorius from Trophy Robotics, decided to introduce Robofest to South Africa, to broaden their horizons. There is no age-limit to participation and tertiary students can also compete.
“It is always great to receive recognition for our efforts, but for us, it is all about the challenge – to use our imagination and skills to come up with a great ‘impossible’ idea and then work hard to make it a reality,” expressed Leander Jacobs.
Details: Coaches Pieter Pretorius 0828518892, Zelda Pretorius 0824792714, or www.trophyrobotics.net
