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© WWF Hong Kong |
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Winners of Hong Kong's second underwater robot challenge today had a trial of their winning underwater robots in a natural marine environment at WWF's Hoi Ha Wan Marine Life Centre. This post-competition activity aimed to further enhance the students' interest in applying robotic technology to marine conservation initiatives.
The final of the challenge, jointly organized by WWF and City University of Hong Kong (CityU), took place in City U's swimming pool on 8 and 9 April 2007. After stiff competition from the competing finalists, HKTA The Yuen Yuen Inst No. 2 Sec School and City University of Hong Kong took first place in the ranger and explorer groups respectively.
Mr Eric Bohm, WWF Hong Kong CEO, said, "I was very impressed by the outstanding performance of the winning underwater robots. The students have demonstrated exceptional talents and creativity in applying scientific knowledge to marine conservation. Our objective of running the competition is to inspire young scientists to apply robotic technology in marine conservation initiatives and the results have been very encouraging."
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The technical consultant for the competition, Dr Robin Bradbeer, Associate Professor in CityU's Department of Electronic Engineering, said she hoped students could learn something about robotic technology and its application to marine conservation. "CityU is not only very keen on researching new technology for different aspects of social application, but also nurturing our younger generations," she said.
Hong Kong Underwater Robot Challenge started in 2006 with the objective of raising the younger generation's interest in robotic technology and marine conservation. The competition was extended to the university / tertiary institute students this year.
The rules and guidelines of the contest were based on those of an international competition that will take place in Canada later this year. In recognition of the International Polar Year in 2007, the international competition will highlight polar regions and reflect the challenges that scientists and engineers face working there. The Hong Kong teams faced similar tasks.
"We thank WWF and City U for organizing this underwater robots competition and the visit to WWF's Hoi Ha marine life centre in February has allowed us to see how the robotic technology is applied in monitoring the underwater marine environment and marine life and this further enhance our interest in the future application of robtic technology in marine conservation programmes. We are excited to come back here today to try our winning robots in a natural marine environment," said Mr. Wu Lai Ming of HKTA The Yuen Yuen Inst No.2 Secondary School.
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The contest started recruiting participants in December 2006. Teams of secondary school students were given a robot kit free of charge and CityU held workshops on building underwater robots and modifying the basic design to accomplish the tasks in the contest.
A total of 16 secondary school teams and 5 university/college teams took part in the final competition, in which teams remotely controlled their self-designed robots to complete three tasks.
The winners may have the chance to compete the International Underwater Robot Challenge, which will be held at the Marine Institute and the Institute for Ocean Technology, Memorial University, Newfoundland, Canada, in June 2007.
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