Two new cities Mumbai and Chennai added to the competition venues
“Robots for life improvement” is the theme for the competition this year
Winners to represent India at World Robot Olympiad 2011 in Abu Dhabi
LEGO, world’s premier manufacturer of play and education materials and Techtronics Education, promoting robotics in education in India, jointly organize the nationwide competition in Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and New Delhi
Mumbai: It’s that time of year again when the school children from across the country are gripped with robotics fervour. Techtronics Education (India) Limited brings the sixth edition of Indian Robot Olympiad (IRO) 2011, the annual national level robotics championship in association with LEGO, world’s premier manufacturer of play and education materials.
This year’s edition of the IRO kick starts in Mumbai at Ecole Mondiale World School on September 17th-18th, 2011, which will be followed by the competition reaching Chennai (September 23rd-24th, 2011), Bangalore (September 24th -25th, 2011) and culminating finally in New Delhi (September 30th – October 1st, 2011). This year the two cities Mumbai and Chennai are making their debut in the IRO itinerary along with an additional practice day before the main event day. The Olympiad is amongst many initiatives taken by Techtronics Education to promote the basic mantra of learning by doing in the Indian education system.
The Indian Robot Olympiad is held in three categories - Primary School, Junior High and Senior High where students aged between 9-17 years participate. In this showcase of talent and intellect, teams from over 600 different schools across India will be participating and the two winning teams from each category will get to represent India in the World Robot Olympiad 2011 to be held in Abu Dhabi from November 18th - 20th, 2011. Some of the prominent schools participating are Appejay School, ST John High School, The Galaxy School, Manav Rachna International School, Saupin's School, National Public School, GD Goenka Public School, Rajhans Vidyalaya, Venkat International School, Jamnabai Narsee School, RMS International School, Dhirubhai Ambani International, Amity School, Chennai Public School, Ecole Mondiale World School, Genesis Global School, Velammal International School, Canadian International School among others.
The IRO 2011 will follow the 2011 WRO Open Category theme: “Robots for Life Improvement”. Under this theme the participants need to identify areas in which robotics may be able to contribute to improving our life and then develop a robotic solution that fulfils this contribution and present it, following the General Rules of the Open Category competition. Participant students demonstrate capabilities of their Robots, which are created using LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education NXT kits.
Highlighting the objective behind the event Mr. Sudhanshu Sharma, MD Techtronics Education (India) Limited stressed on the importance of “Learning by Doing” – the inherent principle behind Techtronics Education. He said, “Techtronics Education in India is committed to the core cause of learning by doing in the education system in India. Globally, the developed world has risen to the use of robotics and automation technology. In India, we want to make children familiar with this technology at an early stage to prepare them to embrace this technology with enthusiasm as they enter the professional world. With this Olympiad, Techtronics education has written yet another successful chapter in Indian Robotics Education, with a commitment of many such more.”
`Long time Lego enthusiast and Chief Judge – IRO 2010, Mr. Apurva Kalia added, “It’s been our sincere effort to set highest benchmark each time with the India Robot Olympiad. Our ultimate aim is driven by the motive to produce world champions in international robotic competitions. I am also pleased to see that each year as we host the Olympiad, the existing benchmarks just go higher.”
About Techtronics Education
Learning by Doing – is the mantra behind Techtronics Education. Started in 2006, Techtronics Education has tied up with world’s leading learning solutions provider and manufacturer of products for hands-on, activity based learning - LEGO Education - as their partner and distributor in India.
Inspired by the “National Curriculum Framework” of NCERT, Techtronics Education has been unwavering in their efforts to give a wholesome activity based education to the students of classes 3rd to 12th, and prepare them for exciting careers in science and technology. Techtronics helps schools in setting up and running robotics activity clubs and teacher training programs all across India.
About LEGO
The LEGO Group is a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company is still owned by the Kirk Kristiansen family who founded it in 1932.
The LEGO Group is engaged in the development of children creativity through playing and learning. Based on the world-famous LEGO brick, the company today provides toys, experiences and teaching materials for children in more than 130 countries. The LEGO Group has approximately 8,000 employees, and it is the world’s fifth largest manufacturer of play materials.
