Gladstone Robotics Competition 2020

Calliope State School’s Advanced Robotics Teams recently participated in a modified version of the Gladstone STEM Cluster Robotics Competition. Teams submitted video entries of their robots completing a simulated mission to transport bauxite from Rio Tinto mines in the Gulf of Carpentaria to Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) and Rio Tinto Yarwun in Gladstone. Teams had to design, construct and program an autonomous robot to navigate the shipping pathway as quickly as possible while avoiding obstacles in their way and manipulating and manoeuvring objects.

After submitting round one entries, teams received feedback from the judges and the opportunity to make improvements to their programming before submitting entries for round two. Six schools in the Gladstone Region participated, and the talented teams from Calliope were awarded two of the possible five awards!

Team RoboPros were awarded ‘Best Response to Feedback’ and Team RoboChamps were awarded ‘Most Improved’ from round one to round two. Team RoboJets showed great resilience and teamwork in solving problems with their programming each time.

Calliope State School extends a huge thank you to QAL and Rio Tinto for funding and co-designing the competition mats; Teacher coaches and student teams; the 2020 Judges from the Gladstone STEM Cluster; and Mr Rowe for his videography skills.