Tesla’s most important products this and next year will not be cars, as revealed by Chief Executive Elon Musk, but reportedly software that drives them autonomously and a humanoid robot.
The Helderberg Robotics Club’s focus this year will be on how robots can assist humans in and around the house.
On the elementary game field, the robot takes on the task of cutting the grass and collecting weeds. At the same time the robot has to watch out for ladybugs that are on its path and bring them to safety. The junior high roboteers will focus on how a rescue robot supports rescuers in an emergency situation with dangerous or difficult tasks throwing a spanner in the works.
On the senior playing field, the robot takes on the role of a care and transport assistant in a hospital. It is supposed to take laundry to the hospital’s own laundry shop, bring water to different rooms, and engage with the patients.
These tasks might be unimaginable for eight to 18-year-old learners, but the roboteers affiliated to the Helderberg Robotics Club have proven in the past that they are ready for such a challenge.
Helderberg roboteers and judges have previously represented South Africa in the World Robot Olympiad in Qatar (2015), India (2016), Costa Rica (2017), Thailand (2018) and Hungry (2019). Last year, Kyle Liesegang and Benjamin Sedres claimed overall eighth place in the country for sterling performances in the Elementary category of the competition.
Gabby van der Heyde and Zaden September placed seventh nationally in the Junior High category of the World Robot Olympiad and Michael Shepstone and Cydney Williams achieved the Top Score in the Senior High category of the South African leg of the World Robot Olympiad.
The Helderberg Robotics Club invites interested youngsters and prospective roboteers to its open day which takes place at Gordon High School on Saturday 19 February from 11:00 to 13:00. This is a free outreach and delegates can bring along their own laptop if they want to program their first robot. The event entails a presentation and a one-hour workshop.
V To register for the open day, contact Helderberg Robotics Club chairperson Tony Williams on 083 235 2154 or helderberg.robotics@gmail.com.
