LEGO Technology and Robotics

MARK LOCKETT

Head of LEGO Technology and

Robotics

With the introduction of the Year 10 Engineering Technology course, Robotics and Engineering continues to flourish and grow at The Southport School.

Engineering Technology students are exposed to the many facets of Engineering, from designing and load testing a geodesic dome to working out vector diagrams for the flight path of a quadcopter drone. The focus is to integrate principles from Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics into a subject that has practical applications. In 2016, TSS will begin teaching the Year 11 QSA syllabus of Engineering Technology Course.

YEAR 10 DOME JOEL GRAY, LUKE VAN HERWAARDE, GEORGE MORTON,

The Prep School LEGO Technology and Robotics program continued to develop in 2015. Every student from Reception to Year 6 undertook a oneterm LEGO Technology or Robotics course that was tied directly into their Science or Technology classroom units. The addition of iPads into the Year 5 classroom program allowed students to access the new LEGO Robot EV3 app and program robots directly from their own devices.

The Year 9 Robotic Engineering Class entered a team in the Queensland FIRST Tech Challenge. The robots are built from a metal construction kit and programmed and controlled via Android phones. The team found the challenge very engaging and were happy with their overall positions.

YEAR 7 MAZE ROBOT

Senior Business Studies students teamed with the Year 9 Robotics Engineering students to enter into the 2015 Mayor’s Telstra Technology Award program. The students developed prototypes, namely a Solar Charging Umbrella, Fitbit Cookie Jar and an ID Caller System for your front door. The ideas were futuristic. All three TSS teams were selected into the final round of 12 Gold Coast schoolbased teams. Each team pitched their ideas to a judging panel, and although not selected for a place, were given high praise for their presentation skills and project ingenuity.

MAYOR’S TECH CHALLENGE – JOEL SHIELD, HEAVEN ELISHAV, DANIEL HUMMELSTAD A new afterschool ‘Makerspace’ activity was introduced in 2015. Students were given access to 3D printers, CAD programs, electronic kits, coding development software and drone flying lessons. It is hoped that this will develop into a platform for students who want to focus on their own Engineering projects and use the available resources to produce ‘kickstarter like’ projects, possibly for competitions like the 2016 Mayor’s Technology Award program.

3D PRINTING BEAMS

The Young Engineers’ Society had an influx of membership this year. Years 7 and 8 students were keen on developing their Robotic classroom projects, and it was often hard to find a spare computer in the Robotics Lab. The Years 5 and 6 members were delighted with the new Prep School bus service and now only have a short walk to the Robotics Lab. The Young Engineers’ Society added eight St Hilda’s girls to their membership this year. Mrs Alison Conyngham accompanied the girls. This partnership between the schools provides an opportunity for the girls and boys to share their ideas and Engineering skills.

The Southport School was selected by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Australia to be one of only two teams representing Australia at the World Adolescent Robot Contest (WARC) in Beijing in late November. TSS competed against five other international and six Chinese teams at the Robot Contest. The TSS team’s robot was built from a metal construction kit and programmed and controlled via student-designed apps on Android phones. To signify the significance of the world event it was opened by the Vice-Premier of China, Liu Yandong. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang attended as well.

WORLD ROBOT TEAM MARK LOCKETT, NIGEL TSE, XAVIER DOERR, CALUM LOCKETT, BEN HIRST

The TSS team of Nigel Tse, Xavier Doerr and Calum Lockett were personally congratulated for their participation by FIRST President Don Bossi. The team were placed third overall and were awarded the Best Designed Robot and the prestigious FIRST Inspire award for their gracious professionalism both on and off the playing field.