Photo By Cpl. Joey Holeman | Air Force Capt. Michael K. Kan, center right, interacts with robotics club students...... read more read more
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CAMP FOSTER, Japan - Department of Defense Education Activity hosted the first robotics competition for high school, middle school and elementary school students Feb. 20 at the Camp Foster Community Center, Okinawa, Japan.
Kadena High School and Kubasaki High School competed against each other in the high school division. Lester Middle School challenged Kadena Middle School in the middle school division. In the elementary division, Stearley Heights Elementary School, E.C. Killin Elementary School, Kadena Elementary School and Bechtel Elementary School faced off against one another.
The competition challenged each student to harness problem solving and critical thinking skills while using the engineering design process, according to Jon Walden, Kubasaki High School’s architecture, engineering and robotics instructor.
During the competition, each group faced five different events with each challenge having four difficulty levels. The competitors had 30 minutes per challenge in which they could earn a total of 10 points.
“I think they did great,” said Donna K. Aponte, an educational technologist at Stearley Heights Elementary School. “I don’t think kids get a lot of chance to compete for a place. They get participation awards, but this is a win or lose (event). They are doing a really good job not getting frustrated and working together. I am really proud in how they performed.”
The competition was part of the Okinawa Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Outreach program, which is a group of active duty military members and civilians who share a common interest in helping educate DoDEA students on Okinawa in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. STEM’s mission is not just to educate the military community, but also to make Okinawa a better place through STEM outreach activities.
Along with a robotics competition, explosive ordnance disposal Marines with Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan, demonstrated the capabilities of their robots to the children.
“It is always a good time coming out and showing the kids our robots and what we do with them,” said Sgt. Larry K. Hicks, an explosive ordnance technician with MCIPAC.
The EOD Marines displayed the MK2 Talon and MK1 Packbot, which are the standard for combat operations. They also displayed the Remotec ANDROS F6, which is primarily used in base surveillance operations due to its stability.
The EOD Marines on Okinawa use the Remotec ANDROS F6 to dispose of ordnance across the bases, some of which was left 70 years ago from the Battle of Okinawa.
The MK2 Talon and MK1 Packbot are fast, lightweight robots used primarily in combat operations for disposing and diffusing improvised explosive devices.
The winning teams for the high school and middle school division were Kadena-1 and Kadena-2 from Kadena High School, as well as The Reaper and AW Heck from Kubasaki High School. The winners in the elementary school level were Robo Wizards, Smellie Trio and Thundercats from Bechtel Elementary School, and Beep 7 from Stearley Heights Elementary School.
The robotics competitors continue to gain knowledge through the experiences of the Okinawa STEM outreach programs. The next event for the program will be a STEM day, which will be a presentation at Kadena High School March 27.
| Date Taken: | 02.20.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.09.2015 02:50 |
| Story ID: | 156403 |
| Location: | CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP |
| Hometown: | BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, US |
| Hometown: | HEAVENER, OKLAHOMA, US |
| Hometown: | KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, US |
| Web Views: | 341 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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