Five Bhutanese students will compete in the 2023 FIRST Global Challenge which will be held in Singapore. In the international competition, youths will gather to compete with the robots they made. This year, thousands of students from more than 190 countries will compete highlighting the importance of renewable energy. The Bhutanese team left for the competition today.
The students are from Tashitse Higher Secondary School in Trashigang, Dechentsemo Central School in Punakha, Jakar Higher Secondary School in Bumthang, Tsenkharla Central School in Trashi Yangtse, and The Royal Academy in Paro.
The participants were selected following a National School Coding competition in July. After the selection of the five participants, 25 students of the Royal Academy joined the team in preparation for the competition.
The team has been preparing for it since last month.
To have a fair competition the participants were provided with robotic kits by FIRST Global, a non-profit organisation that provided the same number of robotic kits for constructing the robot to all the teams around the world.
Additional robotic kits were not allowed to be used.
This year’s theme for the challenge is Hydrogen Horizons.
The robot will have to perform tasks that produce hydrogen and use the hydrogen to store, transport, and convert energy in a simulated game. The game is designed to resemble the actual extraction of hydrogen fuel.
The robot has to pick up the balls representing hydrogen and oxygen and then shoot them in the tanks. After that, the robots have to demonstrate their ability to use hydrogen as an energy carrier.
The Bhutanese team is confident and looking forward to the competition.
“I feel very privileged and euphoric for getting such an opportunity to go outside amongst many students in the world. And I would like to thank the government for providing our students with such an opportunity. During the fab lab testing at Pangbisa, we had various testing and obstacles we had tested out. So, we feel pretty prepared, but there’s always a chance at risk of more and more things occurring during the tournament. So far, I would say we are very prepared,” said Karma Kelzang, a participant.
“For the preparation phase, three important things we have come up with; first is the research, then the building and last, but not the least, is the documentation process so that we can keep track of what we did and most importantly, be aware of what we are doing,” said Pema Choden, another participant.
Two teachers who have been guiding the students said the students constructed the robot mostly on their own.
The mentors are hopeful that such a competition will encourage and motivate other youth in the country.
“Stem subject, many consider it very dry and a lot of theories. But participating in this kind of event, such as the FIRST Global, they will have to put into practice their physics concepts in a trajectory and then they will also have to use mathematical skills such as measuring, writing, knowing the exact distance and all. Therefore, I think this gives them more hands-on practice. And also, it consolidates their theory, which they have learned. And I think their participation in the FIRST Global will also motivate some of the students back home,” said Yonten Chophel, a mentor.
The team went to three schools to show their robot. They also plan to do road shows after the competition.
The tournament will be held from Saturday to Tuesday.
Singye Dema
Edited by Tshering Zam
