KUCHING: A third-semester Information Technology Certificate student from Mas Gading Community College (KKMG) emerged victorious in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) competition organised by Kuching Polytechnic during the TVET Carnival@POLYCC Sarawak Zone at the polytechnic on Wednesday.
According to a KKMG in a statement yesterday (October 26), the winning creation, named STEM Sumo Robot, autonomously navigated the designated arena, pushing objects out of the ring as per the organisers’ instructions, all without the use of remote control.
Brandon Bodai, the KKMG student who participated in the competition, explained that the STEM Sumo Robot operated autonomously based on programming uploaded onto the Arduino UNO (the brain of the Sumo Robot), enabling responsive actions from the robot.
The competition was based on the fastest time to remove objects from the arena. The winning student recorded the quickest time in the final round, an impressive 13.44 seconds, securing the overall championship.
Meanwhile, KKMG director Shirley Phillip expressed confidence that the competition would stimulate efforts to cultivate innovation, problem-solving skills and critical thinking among students.
She highlighted the significance of fostering an ecosystem of innovation not only in teaching and learning but also in management.
“This competition aims to foster innovation among the younger generation. I recommend that all educators in every community college continue to excel and play a role as innovation catalysts by creating an innovation ecosystem in the workplace, encompassing various aspects, whether in teaching and learning innovation or management,” she said.
Other participants in the competition included community colleges, vocational colleges, and technical high schools in the Sarawak region.
