7-10-2023 (SINGAPORE) An international robotics competition, commencing in Singapore on Saturday, has emerged as a pivotal catalyst for the advancement of robotics in several participating nations, according to the event’s organizer.
Running until October 10, this yearly robotics spectacle, orchestrated by the US-based non-profit organization FIRST Global, assembles thousands of students from 191 countries. The competition’s core mission is to underscore the significance of renewable energy and its potential in shaping a brighter future for all.
In a press release, Dean Kamen, the founder of FIRST Global, expressed the organization’s excitement in bringing the 2023 FIRST Global Challenge to Singapore, a nation synonymous with innovation and sustainability. “Singapore exemplifies the importance of increased investments in renewable energy technologies to improve the health of our planet and ensure a cleaner and more equitable energy future,” Kamen stated.
This year’s event marks the first time the competition has ventured into Southeast Asia. Past editions took place in Washington DC in 2017, Mexico City in 2018, Dubai in 2019, and Geneva in 2022. The 2020 and 2021 competitions were held virtually due to the pandemic.
Since its inception in 2017, the FIRST Global Challenge has played a pivotal role in promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education worldwide, as highlighted by Mr. Matt Stalford, FIRST Global’s communications manager. Citing Kazakhstan as an example, Stalford revealed that the competition served as a “springboard for the rapid growth of robotics” in the country.
Kazakhstan’s journey began in 2017 with a small group of students possessing prior robotics experience. Within five years, the nation hosted the largest national robotics competition to select its FIRST Global team, drawing the participation of over 10,000 students, including 3,000 girls. Stalford noted that this success story is just the beginning, with various countries initiating similar national competition programs for robotics.
Bolivia, for instance, organized a national tournament to identify representatives for this year’s FIRST Global team. Over 3,000 students from nine regions participated in regional competitions held across various cities, culminating in a national final where winning candidates were chosen to represent their country.
This year’s theme, like previous editions, revolves around a pressing global issue, with a focus on hydrogen. Participating teams are tasked with constructing robots capable of navigating a simulated environment to produce, store, transport, and convert hydrogen.
During the competition, teams will collaborate in randomly selected international alliances, fostering global cooperation and mutual understanding. The theme of “Hydrogen Horizons” was selected to educate students on the role of hydrogen technologies in our energy future and the broader challenges associated with global energy access. Hydrogen, with its high energy content and minimal environmental impact, holds promise as a key technology to address the world’s increasing energy demands.
According to the US Energy Information Administration, global electricity demand is projected to reach 45 trillion kWh by 2050, nearly 20 trillion kWh more than the 2018 production. Hydrogen technology can play a pivotal role in addressing this dynamic by facilitating the distribution of energy on a global scale, without contributing to carbon emissions.
In addition to the robotics competition, FIRST Global teams will engage in The New Technology Experience, established in 2021 to keep students updated on cutting-edge technology. This year’s theme, “Energy Evolution,” will focus on various forms of renewable energy, including hydrogen technologies, and the steps required to create a sustainable energy future.
Teams will conduct research and develop innovative solutions to advance the implementation of renewable energy and improve access to it.
Representing Singapore in this global event is a team of five from the Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)’s Robotics Technology Society. The school has consistently represented Singapore in every FIRST Global Challenge since 2017 and also serves as the event’s in-country partner.
Each national team’s selection process is overseen by the in-country partner, responsible for assembling and managing the team. FIRST Global encourages partners to select members who are passionate about spreading STEM education, inclusive representation of their nation’s population, and engaging new students each year.
Winners in the competition can vie for 23 different awards, each with its own distinct criteria. The most prestigious accolade, the Albert Einstein Award for FIRST Global International Excellence, is presented to teams whose robots perform exceptionally well in the competition and embody the principles of the FIRST Global community.
The judges, who bring decades of experience officiating FIRST Global competitions, are volunteers. While the awards typically include medals and ribbons, Temasek Corporation will provide an additional prize in this year’s competition. The three winning FIRST Global teams will each receive $1,000, 50 Experiential Robotics Platforms, and supporting curriculum and technical documentation to facilitate outreach activities promoting STEM education among young women in their communities.
