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SUSTAINING ROBOT TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION IN BRUNEI SCHOOLS THROUGH COMPETITIONS

Muhammad Purat Abdullah SikutCert. Ed., B.A (Ed.) Brunei

Nor Erawadi Hj IbrahimB.Sc (Ed.) Brunei, M.Sc. Sussex

By:

BRO 2008IRO 2008

ABU ROBOCON (local) 2009

ROBOCUP SINGAPORE 2010 SYMPOSIUM 25th June 2010

Session D2: Robotics in Education II

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The Science, Technology and Environment Partnership Centre (STEP

Centre)Ministry of Education, Brunei

DarussalamROBOTECH 2007

BRO 2008

Main Role: To promote science, technology and environmental education to schools through various value-added activities – outdoor and hands-on.

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Why robot technology?

1. Realise career choice and can improve creative and innovation thinking in technology-related education.

2. No such attempt yet in education system (now can link to current D&T in SPN21).

3. To mainstream robot technology and education to schools (STEP Centre has organised several robot technology-based competitions annually since 2003).

ROBOTECH 2005

BRO 2005 ABU ROBOCON (local) 2009

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To date, the robot technology-based competitions introduced and

organised by STEP Centre are :

1. Micromouse (local competition known as Robotech Competition) ;

2. LEGO Mindstorms (local competition known as Brunei Robotic Competition – BRO); and

3. ABU Robocon (local competition known as ABU Robocon local selection).

ROBOTECH 2006 BRO 2006 BRO 2006

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MICROMOUSE COMPETITION

1. Local competition is known as Robotech Competition.

2. Objectives: To inculcate interest and understanding of robotics and to enhance the development and innovation in making robots.

3. Teams design and build simple autonomous robot which races to complete a race track as fast as possible.

4. Comprises a chassis, a drive or motor to move it, a steering or turning method, sensors to detect a white line, control logic to keep the vehicle on track and a power source.

5. The parts relatively cheapest in local robot competitions.

6. Since first introduced in 2003, the primary goals are either about speed or completion of race lap within the shortest time – By 2005 onwards, STEP Centre included tough robot competition called Gladiators.

7. Competed by secondary and tertiary levels.

8. To date, Brunei Darussalam has not participated in any international micromouse competitions.

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CHALLENGES (Micromouse)

1. No continuity after national event (not joining international competition).

2. Not much educational skills required / short-termed. E.g. students learn how to do a simple soldering.

3. Based on luck on day of competition – Some work for months and failed on the real day, some just worked on the mouse the night before, and won the next day!

4. Can ask somebody else to prepare without judges know about it, simply turn up and win! Again no educational or healthy competition values.

5. Still not being used as a learning material directly in lessons, e.g. in physics, etc.

6. 3 students work on one “mouse” – not educationally viable.

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LEGO Mindstorms

1. The objectives of the competition were to introduce basic knowledge on how to build robots from primary school level; to cultivate students’ interest in robot technology in relation to the real world; to develop primary and secondary school students’ interest and talents in science, mathematics and technology; and to promote creative thinking, communication and cooperation skills.

2. Introduced by STEP Centre in 2004.

3. The local competition is known as Brunei Robotic Competition (BRO).

4. Under STEP Centre, LEGO Mindstorms for Schools, LEGO RCX software version 2.5 was introduced and utilised initially – then NXT software version 2.9.

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5. The body structures uses familiar LEGO bricks. Programming with computer, read by infrared. Read by the “brain”. Completion of specific tasks such as scoring goals, overcoming hurdles and so on.

6. Smart looks and ability to look differently thanks to the bricks, this is an attractive competition and suits well with primary and secondary students.STEP Centre initially trained 20 teachers (10 primary and 10 secondary) for a duration of 2 ½ hours for 5 afternoons.

7. Currently, more than 40 schools in the country possess at least one set of LEGO Mindstorms with site license – Schools’ own budget to purchase sets and license.

8. The local competition follows exactly with international competition for that year. STEP would build the same race tracks as per international programmes – helps ensure winning teams that represent the country will be very familiar with the competition – thus achieve a better result in international competitions.

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Challenges (Lego Mindstorm Competition)

1. Expensive – schools need to purchase with their own budget – disadvantage for schools with less funds.

2. Optimally 3 students work on one set – not educationally viable.

3. WRO, IRO held in either far away countries or not usually accessible to our students.

4. Version change, require more financial resources.

BRO 2008 BRO 2007 BRO 2007

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ABU Robot Contest (ABU ROBOCON)

1. For higher institution level.2. The Asian Broadcasting Union (ABU) Robot Contest (ROBOCON)

initiated in Japan in 2002 - an annual project of ABU to showcase robot technology whilst developing quality video coverage of each member country’s local event.

3. For Brunei Darussalam, the national broadcasting agency, Radio Televisyen Brunei (RTB) collaborates with STEP Centre which co-ordinates with the relevant institutions interested.

4. Each year, a technical institution is sent to represent the country to the competitions.

5. A local ABU Robocon selection process if more than one institutions interested.

6. ABU Robocon is held at different member countries each year. 7. The robotic tasks incorporated normally reflect or link to the host

country’s national heritage or culture. 8. Each country was normally represented by a team which normally

came from technology institute or university. 9. An intense competitions where strategies of the operators and of

course the capabilities of the robot, that were normally made from scratch, can differentiate between winning and losing.

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Challenges (Robocon Competition)

1. Expensive – no budget given except from STEP – high-end, could be $10,000 realistically.

2. Only 1 or 2 institutions interested and capable – overly technical.

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LOCAL COMPETITIONSFigure 1. The 3 types of local competitions with their venues and dates of events from 2003 - 2009)

Year Robotech Competition

(Micromouse)

Brunei Robotic Competion (LEGO

Mindstorms)

ABU Robocon (local selection)

2003 Jerudong Playground Amphitheatre (9th Mac)

– –

2004 Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD)(14th Mac)

Beribi Telanai primary school (25th Sept)

Oil and Gas Discovery Centre (OGDC) Seria (20th April)

2005 The Mall Gadong (22nd May)

Pusar Ulak primary school (20th Sept)

Sultan Saiful Rijal Technical School (7th July)

2006 Pusat Tingkatan Enam Berakas (20th July)

Sayyidina Abu Bakar secondary school (16th Sept)

Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College (29th June)

2007 Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah College (5th August)

PAP Hajah Masna secondary school(29th Aug)

Not held

2008 Berakas Secondary School (20th Aug)

PAP Hajah Masna Secondary School (28th Aug)

Not held

2009 Not held (due to Influenza A H1N1 outbreak) RTB Sungai Akar(13th June)

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International achievementFigure 2a. Brunei Darussalam’s participation in international ABU ROBOCON

Year Representative of Local Institution

Venue Achievement

2003 Jefri Bolkiah Engineering College

Bangkok Thailand (22nd – 26th August)

No Award

2004 Jefri Bolkiah Engineering College

Seoul, Republic of Korea (8th – 14th)

No Award

2005 Jefri Bolkiah Engineering College

Beijing, People’s Republic of China (25th – 29th Aug)

Won Toyota Award

2006 Jefri Bolkiah Engineering College

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (8th – 12th Sept.)

No Award

2007 Jefri Bolkiah Engineering College

Hanoi, Vietnam(24th – 29th Aug)

No Award

2008 Did not participate (no takers)

Pune, India –

2009 UBD (Withdrew due to technical problem on robots)

Tokyo, Japan –

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Figure 2b. Brunei Darussalam’s participation in International Robot Olympiad (IRO)

Year Local Representative Venue / Host

Country

Achievement

2007 Primary: Muhammad Alam Seria primary school (Junior Legged Robot and Obstacle Race)

Singapore(27th – 30th Nov)

No Award

2008 Primary: Binturan primary schoolSecondary: SMJA secondary school

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia(17th – 21st Dec)

Won 4 Special Awards (for):1.Rolling Ball Maze Solving Junior League2.Ball Maze Solving Challenge League3.Cart Rolling Ball Maze Solving Challenge league 4.Legged Robot Race Challenge League

2009 Not joined (due to Flu A HIN1 outbreak)

South Korea

–

IRO 2008

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Figure 2c. Brunei Darussalam’s participation in World Robot Olympiad (WRO) Year Local Representative Venue Achievement

2004 Primary: Hj Mohd Jaafar Maun Primary SchoolSecondary: No participation

Singapore(5th – 7th Nov)

13th position from 33 countries participated.

2005 Primary: Anggerek Desa Primary School

Bangkok, Thailand

(4th – 6th Nov)

No award

2006 Primary: Lumapas primary school (Robot Soccer Goal)Secondary: PAP Hajah Masna secondary school (Robot Adventure)

Nanning, People’s

Republic of China (14th –

19th Nov)

No award

2007 Not joined Taipei –

2008 Not joined Yokohama, Japan

–

2009 Not joined (due to Flu A H1NI outbreak)

Pohang, South Korea

–

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RECOMMENDATIONS

In order to mainstream robotic education, it is recommended that :

1. More serious effort and collaboration by related departments under MOE such as STEP Centre, Curriculum Development Department and Department of Technical Education – integrating the understanding, designing and application of robot technology in the curriculum (primary and secondary).

2. How? By probably linking with the recently established Design and Technology subject thus more meaningful, sustainable and relevant to SPN21 (the new national education system) – SPN21 considers education which focuses on career development of the students (to reduce unemployment).

Design & Technology materials

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RECOMMENDATIONS (continue)

4. Currently, robot technology in schools is restricted to students exclusively joining for the sake of competitions, such as those organised by STEP Centre, or in robotic clubs in some schools initiated by a handful number of passionate teachers.

5. Nationally, lack of expertise in robot especially in education. Mostly on personal level, technical experts are normally lecturers. (which university or technical institutions offer courses on robotics?)

6. Join more international competitions for exposure, e.g. APEC micromouse contest (maze type), Singapore Robotic Games, All-Japan Micromouse contest. – continue – sustaining it can lead to better achievement.

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