March 25, 2005
Challenging students to build robots alongside global leaders is one of the ways the Perth Community Futures has redefined hands-on learning.
Since 2002, students from both elementary and secondary schools have been creating their own automated robots as part of a North-American wide robotics competition. T he practical experience is helping youth to recognize the skilled trades and technology careers available in the local community.
“Something like the robotics programs, where students will have a chance to work with professionals in the community at a young age, really shows them that exciting local career opportunities exist,” says Jaret Henhoeffer, General Manager of Perth Community Futures Development Corporation.
Schools of Perth County are also pleased to see that the exposure has brought more attention to post-secondary education. The declining agricultural industry in the area has led to a surplus of ambitious, semi-skilled workers turning to millwrights and manufacturing companies for employment. The robotics competition supports this industry by helping students make a leap towards more lucrative local careers in technology by giving them a glimpse at fields such as engineering and automation.
Perth County is developing a cluster of highly skilled robotics and automation companies. These companies support the local robotics program as a means to identify and connect with future talent in their community. “Now local youth know we exist and that they can work for us during and after their engineering or electrical degree”, says Michael McCourt, President and CEO of D&D Automation, a Stratford company that automates manufacturing plants in Iran and South America.
The project was initiated by High School Teacher Scott Bannerman, who formed the first Ram Robotics Club with 22 of his Stratford Central students. The group had only six weeks to design, construct, and program an automated robot. After Bannerman’s team succeeded in the Canadian Regional Championships in 2003, 11 more schools stepped up to the challenge.
Each school that enters the FIRST (For Inspiration, Robotics, Science and Technology) Robotics Competition must create a robot with maneuverability and control to compete against more than 1,000 other teams. Pneumatic arms and intricate remote control systems are essential to complete competition tasks, such as box stacking.
This inspires students to learn extensive new skills. Assembling the robot’s mechanical parts leads to an understanding of metal fabrication and welding. Once these techniques are mastered, students also learn about electronics and microcontrollers as they incorporate software automation.
To guide teams throughout this advanced process, companies such as D&D Automation, Novatronics and Benshaw Canada work hand-in-hand with students. The employers hope their involvement will help the bright young minds of Perth County to recognize the high-tech opportunities in their backyard, before leaving the rural community.
The combination of industry and education seems to be a success. In 2004, more than 300 students in the Perth area participated in hands-on robotics workshops and competitions.
Bannerman, who watched the project snowball from his original group of 22 students, shows no signs of slowing down. “It’s a good experience for them,” he noted. “We’ll have a team ready to go next year.