SA Power Networks and VEX Robotics wrapped up an exciting competition for schools yesterday, offering big awards to students who designed and built robots to find and remove 'hot joints' in the electricity network using the VEX Vision Sensor. These hot joints, which were previously found and fixed by hand, could cause problems for the network's capacity and reliability.

More than 100 students from 20 metropolitan and regional public and private schools took part, showing how robotics can make the electricity network more efficient and safer for workers in South Australia. Students built robots to detect the colour of a joint and check if it was hot using the VEX Vision Sensor. If the robot found a hot joint, it had to signal this and then remove the joint. If the joint was not hot, the robot only needed to signal this and do nothing else.

Schools presented their robots in the SA Power Networks and VEX Robotics competition, with entries judged in four categories. Participants received help from experts at SA Power Networks and VEX Robotics. Schools competed for a prestigious trophy and a $2,500 VEX Robotics voucher.

Award Winners

The award winners across those categories were:

• Cognizant Innovation Award: The innovation award is the most coveted of them all. It recognises the team who has shown the best overall demonstration of robotics, automation and teamwork. Mid North Christian College (for the second time in four years)

• Engineering Award: Given to the team with the most impressive engineering notebook. Banksia Park International High School

• WD-40 Award: This award acknowledges those teams who worked together to get the job done, and even when things didn’t go according to plan, they never gave up. Mitcham Girls High School

• Automation Award: Awarded to the team who has demonstrated the best use of automation to complete the challenge. Victor Harbor High School

Ceclia Schutz, SA Power Networks’ Acting Head of Corporate Affairs said, “SA Power Networks believes smart, robotic technology could vastly improve efficiency and help reduce the risks to crew safety.”

“We currently use thermal imaging and visual inspections to identify these parts of the network. Use of robots would help eliminate any risk to crews and deliver a range of efficiencies. We see the use of robots or drones as a major opportunity for innovation that can improve efficiency and worker safety.”

Nicholas Eagle, National Sales Director of VEX Robotics said “It’s fantastic to see our partnership with SA Power Networks and schools from across South Australia continue to grow. The impact this has on the students and the growth of STEM is truly inspiring”.

Encouraging STEM Education

The competition is linked to the STEM program in schools, with participants being supported by experts from SA Power Networks and VEX Robotics.

Minister for Education, Training and Skills, Blair Boyer, said “It’s important that we foster a love of science and other STEM subjects at a young age so that students are equipped with the skills they need to follow their career paths of choice.

There is so much opportunity now for young people here in South Australia and improving STEM subjects plays an important role in inspiring young people to go into STEM careers”.

Growing Partnerships

“Seeing the joy and engagement from students participating in the VEX challenge was remarkable, and it provides confidence that South Australia is a great place to nurture our future STEM leaders,” said Nikolas Galanopoulos, Consulting Senior Manager, Cognizant, which sponsored the challenge.

Nicholas Eagle, National Sales Director of VEX Robotics, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership. “It’s fantastic to see our partnership with SA Power Networks and schools from across South Australia continue to grow. The impact this has on the students and the growth of STEM is truly inspiring.”