Young minds gear up for robotics showdown in Eldorado Park

The Eldorado Park Chess, Robotics and Coding Club (ECRACC) is preparing for the Gauteng regional SpringBots South Africa 100 Teams Robotics Competition at the Don Mateman Hall on June 7.

The club will compete on the national level on June 16.

Some 200 children will attend the regional competition, with each of the 40 teams comprising five members.

The ECRACC has groups from Eldos and Ennerdale participating. They will go as 11 teams, comprising learners from Willow Crescent Secondary School, Eldomaine High School (EHS), Kliptown High, Lancevale and Eldorado Park Secondary, among others.

The participants were spotted at EHS on May 2 with their tutor, Xia-Vyan Daniels, and the ECRACC founder, Alicia McPherson, when they geared up to meet the competition.

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Storm Roberts (15) and Xack Rayners (15) share their expectations and preparations for the competition.

Roberts said he is confident about his team’s performance, citing their intense practice sessions.

“Some of the new guys surprised me in many ways. They are fast learners, even on things I thought would take time,” he said.

Rayners said he is excited about the competition’s scale and potential and that this would be his first time competing.

“I look forward to learning new things despite being unfamiliar with the specific robot design and coding used in this competition,” he noted.

ESH learners Tebello Tshukudu (16) and Kelsey Jacobs (14) from team Cyberbots shared their experiences on robotics and the competition.

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Tshukudu explains that her interest in science motivated her to join the robotics course.

“I like to learn, more especially when it comes to mathematics problems. You always have a solution because we are the new generation with high technology.”

Tshukudu started learning robotics in Grade Seven and believes it is possible if you make up your mind.

Jacobs joined the robotics club seeking a new activity and more experience with technology.

“I want to be rich,” Jacobs grinned. “Perhaps I can make a new car.”

When asked what they hoped for, Tshukudu said that if they won, she would love to travel to Asia as part of the competition.

Jacobs conceded that even if they lost, at least they upskilled themselves in robotics, and that is more than doing nothing at home.

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Daniels, a former student at EHS and tutor mentoring beneficiaries of the ECRACC’s programme, said his robotics competition experience led him to pursue computer science.

By participating in such competitions, he received exposure that introduced him to networks of individuals who offered him a scholarship to follow his passion.

He teaches students the Python and Blocky computer programming languages, hoping they gain helpful skills and experiences.

“My wish is for them to learn, grow and maybe go down the same road I did,” Daniels said.