Robot designers get into motion

BUDDING young robot designers got to test their metal at the recent VEX Robotic IQ Regional Finals held in the Sáile Sports and Community Centre in Kinsale.

Over 400 primary school students from 16 primary schools took part in the event which was hosted by Kinsale Community School (KCS) and organised by Transition Year (TY) co-ordinator and robotics teacher Niamh Hay. 

The KCS Vex Robotics team even acted as referees for the regional final, while teachers Tony Cierans and John Corcoran acted as MCs.

‘VEX Robotics is a programme that enables students to learn about Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) through designing, building, programming and competing with their robots in competitions organised by Dell EMC,’ said a school spokesperson.

‘On arrival, each school’s robot was inspected and after successful inspection they proceeded to take part in the competition.’

They added that it was a fantastic success and students had the opportunity to display and further develop their skills in STEM.

The TY Vex Robotics team had mentored pupils from the local primary school, Scoil Naomh Eltin, in building and competing in the VEX IQ competition.

The pupils from Scoil Naomh Eltin visit the school twice a week and the TY Robotics team helps them design, build and programme a robot.

Four schools – Canovee National School, Bandon Bridge National School, Knockavilla National School and Cork Educate Together National School – all qualified as finalists and they will compete in the National Finals in CIT on February 14th.

‘Our TY VEX Robotics team also volunteered to referee, judge and marshal a second VEX IQ competition in CIT that took place recently,’ said the spokesperson.

Kinsale Community School has an excellent record when it comes to robot design as the VEX Robotics represented Ireland at the world championships in Kentucky last year, where they picked up the prestigious Community Award.