CPES Robotics Fund

 What exactly is Roboticon?

 

Roboticon is an annual event run in partnership with School of Computer Science and the Society of Computing and Information Science (SOCIS).  It is an exciting opportunity for high school students to learn more about the field of Computer Science by designing and building Lego Mindstorms robots to complete a series of challenges designed by SOCIS students. We are proud to announce this year will be our 14th Roboticon challenge!

 

The event provides young high school students with the opportunity for practical application and demonstration of math, programming and engineering skills, as well as promoting teamwork, collaboration and sportsmanship.  Roboticon facilitates students to build, program and test their solutions based on practical robotics equipment and technology.

 

This event is open to all high school students. Roboticon is a completely free event to attend and the first place school receives a brand new Lego Mindstorms kit!

 

This event follows 13 years of highly successful Roboticon competitions that were hosted by the University of Guelph.  Last year, Roboticon drew more then 100 students and teachers from across Ontario. 20 teams participated in the robotics challenge, where they demonstrated what they had learned to an audience that included University staff and faculty, families, friends and members of the Guelph community.

 

Teaching math, programming, engineering and science using Robotics

 

The Roboticon challenge encourages exploration, curiosity and experimentation, while enabling students to reason systematically. We want to provide the best hands-on innovative learning experience for students. Our aspiration is to inspire the developers, programmers, builders and creative problem-solvers of the next generation.

 

Roboticon gives young students the opportunity to build and program practical robotic solutions. Roboticon proves an innovative way of teaching a wide range of essential skills, while students gain key learning values, such as:

• developing, building and testing solutions
• engage, brainstorm and share ideas
• utilize strategic thinking through analysis and design
• work as a team and identify the positive outcomes of supporting team members
• receive hands-on experience with motors, sensors and peripherals that interact with the computing machine
• observe how data can be collected and used in programs to solve problems

 We believe that children exposed to computer science at a young age will lead to more of them working in the computing and technology fields.

 

We want to take our robots to the next level!

 

For 13 years, high school students have been looking forward to the Roboticon challenge every year. However, after 8 years of use, our Lego Mindstorms NXT kits are now in dire condition. Parts are missing, pieces are damaged and the software is outdated. In fact, the NXT model has been discontinued by Lego.

 

Unlike other robotics competitions, we do not require the students to complete their own fundraising for tools and supplies, our event is completely free for all students and each registered school is loaned a Lego Mindstorms kit for the competition.

 

With your generous donations, we will be able to purchase the new Lego Mindstorms EV3 kits, equipped with updated software, modernized sensors, faster processors and the most powerful P-brick ever built by Lego, maximizing performance and possibilities. Each new Mindstorms kit costs approximately $450 with taxes, so if we can reach our goal, we can purchase 10 new kits!

 

Thinking of donating?

 

Once we've reached our fundraising goal, we will further expand our Roboticon competition, by expanding our outreach beyond 20 teams and servicing even more schools across the province.

 

We also aim to foster growth within the Ontario female computer science community and address the low representation of females in the information and communications technology sector. Roboticon works to educate, inspire and provide young girls with the skills and resources to pursue opportunities in computing and technology fields across the country. We want to teach girls that computer science is so much more than using and programming computers, by having them participate in this exciting, creative and enduringly engaging robotics competition.

 

With your donation, we will be able to:

• Expand our outreach into other cities
• Encourage young girls to pursue a field in computing and engineering technology
• Help further student’s education by introducing them to cutting-edge technology
• Ignite enthusiasm for students interested in computer science

In addition to benefitting high school students, University of Guelph students get a great experience too! By running the Roboticon competition, U of G students learn valuable leadership skills, encourage teamwork and good sportsmanship among the participants and help inspire the next generation by creating a positive impact on young student’s life.  

Thank you for considering Roboticon.Please click the "Donate" link on the right, and choose the CPES Robotics Fund for your gift. Every gift puts us a step closer to new kits and more student engagement!

 

If you would like to see interactive photos from our previous competitions, please visit our Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cisphotos/sets/72157642652706513/

 

 If you're interested in seeing Roboticon in action, save the date for March 14th and 15th 2015 at the University of Guelph.

 

This event is open to all high school students. Interested schools can register by contacting: liaison@socs.uoguelph.ca. Get a team of 3-4 students and teacher/mentor together and register your team now!

 

 

Donate today to become involved in this exciting new fundraising opportunity!

CPES Robotics Fund
Lauren Salmon

Denotes a Team Captain