Competing under the name: Team Lightbot, Jonathan and Luke Kogler, learners at Northcliff High School, have secured first place in the RoboMission Senior category at the World Robot Olympiad South Africa (WROSA).

The brothers’ latest triumph, at the national finals held in Pretoria, is the result of a journey that began more than a decade ago, with the educational game Lightbot, which sparked their shared passion for coding and inspired their team name. Their victory now earns them the opportunity to represent South Africa at the International World Robotics Olympiad in Singapore, from November 26–28, where they will compete in the Roadrunning Senior category.

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Luke described what national representation means to him. “It means a bigger challenge.”

For Jonathan, this marks his second time representing South Africa on the global stage. “The first time was in 2023, in Panama, as part of Team JAT, coached by robotics club Creator Workshops. I am looking forward to building on my past experience in Panama, where I got to meet people from all over the world and see the way they built their robots. It really is such a blessing that I can go to another part of the world, meet new people, and represent my country again.”

Competing side by side has strengthened their bond. “It is amazing to share an achievement like this with my brother,” said Jonathan, “and it has brought us much closer, by having to share the pressure and collectively make decisions. Going to another country and representing South Africa together is going to be something we won’t ever forget.”

Their working dynamic is built on collaboration and clear roles. They each develop solutions independently before debating them and finalising a shared approach. Luke leads most of the coding, while Jonathan oversees the project and focuses on improvements and checks. “This leads to less mistakes being made as there are two people checking everything.”

Their gold-medal performance comes after a difficult regional competition the previous year, where their robot repeatedly failed during scoring rounds. The setback became their biggest motivation. They rebuilt their robot to be simpler and more consistent, introduced a gyroscope to correct turning accuracy, and experimented with different batteries to stabilise performance.

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They also learned how to manage disagreements. “We worked out that we should give each partner a chance to explain their plan in full, and then look at the advantages and disadvantages. There is normally a clear winner or a middle ground.”

The pressure of competition was another lesson. After scoring 81 and 66 points in early rounds, they stayed focused. In their final run, the robot achieved 167 points, placing them first at the WROSA finals. Jonathan reflected on what kept him grounded. “I learnt to keep doing my best, and knowing that this competition is not my life. I am defined by my relationship with God.”

Beyond trophies, coding has reshaped how they think. They say it has improved their understanding of how computers work, deepened their appreciation for finished products, and strengthened their ability to break down complex problems into logical steps.

Now turning their focus to Singapore, the Kogler brothers are seeking support to cover travel, accommodation, competition, and some equipment costs. Donations will help fuel their journey, inspire future science, technology, engineering, and mathematics talent, and give South Africa a strong presence on the international robotics stage.

To make donations, click on their back-a-buddy link: Backabuddy.co.za

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