Bright-eyed: The SK Kampong Layau team posing with a model of their solar-powered system at the Grand Finals.
UNPREDICTABLE weather and changing tides are some of the dangers fishermen in Kampung Layau, Kota Tinggi, Johor, have to contend with in open waters.
To help protect them from these elements, a group of pupils from SK Kampong Layau came up with a system that includes an automatic fishing net and a safety alarm.
The net deploys when the tide is at an ideal level for fishing, and the alarm alerts fishermen when it is time to return home before conditions become dangerous.
The pupils’ innovation recently earned them recognition as champions in the Indigenous Culture and Technology subcategory of the Innovation category at the Petrosains RBTX Challenge 2024.
Entirely solar-powered, their “Advanced ReTTiSS – Real-time Tide Sensor System” aligns with the competition’s focus on sustainability and supporting traditional livelihoods.
Team member Ahmad Sidik, 11, said he joined the competition and worked on the project to help make his father’s job as a fisherman safer and easier.
The Indigenous Culture and Technology subcategory was a new addition to the robotics competition, now in its sixth edition. It drew the participation of 267 Indigenous children from the Peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak.
This effort reflected a collective commitment to digital inclusion and community development, empowering these Indigenous participants with vital science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) knowledge to innovate towards a more sustainable future, according to a Petrosains press release dated Oct 28.
In the Net Zero Carbon Emissions subcategory of the Innovation category, another team from Johor stood out.
Sakti Serene from SMS Kota Tinggi shone with their project on sustainable textile furniture. Aiming to reduce waste and support eco-friendly practices, they transformed unwanted clothing into furniture by mixing it with starch.
Since its inception in 2018, the Petrosains RBTX Challenge has empowered over 77,000 robotics enthusiasts to showcase their robotic creations on a shared platform.
This year, the competition drew 1,952 teams and over 7,000 participants from Malaysia and other countries, including Brunei and Indonesia. A total of 437 teams were shortlisted as finalists, competing at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, for top honours across three main categories: Innovation, Robo Sumo and Robo Tracer.
Winners across all categories were awarded cash prizes of RM3,500, while second- and third-place winners received RM2,500 and RM1,500, respectively.
Ikedo Kogeki from Negri Sembilan, who won the Robo Sumo 3kg subcategory, received a special pass to compete in the All Japan Robot Sumo Tournament in Tokyo, Japan, to be held this month.
Centred on sustainability, the Petrosains RBTX Challenge 2024 encouraged participants to adopt sustainable practices and develop projects that contribute to a more sustainable way of life. This included addressing critical issues such as waste reduction, energy conservation and environmental protection.
Participants were provided with essential training in basic design, coding, and sensor technology for robotics development.
Petrosains Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Ezarisma Azni Mohamad said as the social impact arm of PETRONAS, Petrosains is entrusted with the mission of inspiring and enhancing STEM literacy within communities, both near and far.
“The challenge is aligned with PETRONAS’ sustainability goals and its vision of being a progressive energy and solutions partner that enriches lives for a sustainable future,” he said in the press release.
The challenge kicked off in May. Participants engaged in RBTX Workshops nationwide between June and July, followed by asynchronous learning through the RBTX portal throughout the year.
The qualifying rounds then took place in August and September, with the competition culminating in the Grand Finals on Oct 26 and 27.
