ROBOCUP SINGAPORE 2010 SYMPOSIUM

25th June 2010

Session D2: Robotics in Education II

SUSTAINING ROBOT TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION IN BRUNEI

SCHOOLS THROUGH COMPETITIONS
By:
Muhammad Purat Abdullah Sikut Nor Erawadi Hj Ibrahim
Cert. Ed., B.A (Ed.) Brunei B.Sc (Ed.) Brunei, M.Sc. Sussex

IRO 2008
ABU ROBOCON BRO 2008
(local) 2009
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 The Science, Technology and Environment
Partnership Centre (STEP Centre)
ROBOTECH 2007 Ministry of Education, Brunei Darussalam

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

BRO 2008
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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).

BRO 2005 ABU ROBOCON

(local) 2009

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ROBOTECH 2005
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 5

micromouse competitions.
 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. 10
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 COMPETITIONS
Figure 1. The 3 types of local competitions with their venues and dates of events from
2003 - 2009)
Year Robotech Competition Brunei Robotic ABU Robocon (local
(Micromouse) Competion (LEGO selection)
Mindstorms)
2003 Jerudong Playground – –
Amphitheatre (9th Mac)
2004 Universiti Brunei Beribi Telanai primary Oil and Gas Discovery
Darussalam (UBD) school Centre (OGDC) Seria
(14th Mac) (25th Sept) (20th April)
2005 The Mall Gadong Pusar Ulak primary Sultan Saiful Rijal
(22nd May) school (20th Sept) Technical School (7th July)
2006 Pusat Tingkatan Enam Sayyidina Abu Bakar Paduka Seri Begawan
Berakas (20th July) secondary school (16th Sultan Science College
Sept) (29th June)
2007 Duli Pengiran Muda Al- PAP Hajah Masna Not held
Muhtadee Billah College secondary school
(5th August) (29th Aug)
2008 Berakas Secondary PAP Hajah Masna Not held
School (20th Aug) Secondary School (28th
Aug)
2009 Not held (due to Influenza A H1N1 outbreak) RTB Sungai Akar 12
(13th June)
 International achievement
Figure 2a. Brunei Darussalam’s participation in international ABU ROBOCON

Year Representative of Local Venue Achievement

Institution
2003 Jefri Bolkiah Engineering Bangkok Thailand No Award
College (22nd – 26th August)
2004 Jefri Bolkiah Engineering Seoul, Republic of No Award
College Korea (8th – 14th)
2005 Jefri Bolkiah Engineering Beijing, People’s Won Toyota
College Republic of China (25th Award
– 29th Aug)
2006 Jefri Bolkiah Engineering Kuala Lumpur, No Award
College Malaysia (8th – 12th
Sept.)
2007 Jefri Bolkiah Engineering Hanoi, Vietnam No Award
College (24th – 29th Aug)
2008 Did not participate Pune, India –
(no takers)
2009 UBD (Withdrew due to Tokyo, Japan –
technical problem on robots)
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Figure 2b. Brunei Darussalam’s participation in International Robot Olympiad (IRO)

Year Local Representative Venue / Achievement

Host
Country
2007 Primary: Muhammad Alam Singapore No Award
Seria primary school (Junior (27th – 30th
Legged Robot and Obstacle Nov)
Race)
2008 Primary: Binturan primary Kuala Won 4 Special Awards
school Lumpur, (for):
Secondary: SMJA secondary Malaysia 1.Rolling Ball Maze Solving
school (17th – 21st Junior League
Dec) 2.Ball Maze Solving
Challenge League
3.Cart Rolling Ball Maze
Solving Challenge league
IRO 2008 4.Legged Robot Race
Challenge League
2009 Not joined (due to Flu A HIN1 South Korea –
outbreak)
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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 Singapore 13th position from 33

Primary School (5th – 7th Nov) countries
Secondary: No participation participated.
2005 Primary: Anggerek Desa Bangkok, No award
Primary School Thailand
(4 – 6th Nov)
th

2006 Primary: Lumapas primary Nanning, People’s No award

school (Robot Soccer Goal) Republic of China
Secondary: PAP Hajah Masna (14th – 19th Nov)
secondary school (Robot
Adventure)
2007 Not joined Taipei –
2008 Not joined Yokohama, Japan –
2009 Not joined (due to Flu A H1NI Pohang, South –
outbreak) 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 16

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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