Twenty teams and about 60 participants got involved in the 6th annual CQ Junior Robotics Competition, held at Rockhampton's DPI Conference Centre recently (June 13).

The competition caters for primary and high school competitors in the robot soccer, robot dance and robot rescue categories.

David Nicholson from Aldridge State High School was among the contestants

Stanwell State School prevailed in the rescue category over 2 independent entries; Rockhampton Grammar School won the Premier Rescue section over 2 teams from Aldridge State High; Yeppoon State School took out all 3 places in the Primary Dance; and CQ Christian College won the Open Dance over teams from Aldridge High.

There were no robot soccer entries this year but prospects for a return of the category next year are good.

Independent entrant Abel Chiou with his 'Stryker 7' robot

The robots used in the junior robotics competition are typically built using construction kits. Programming software is used to control motors, robot arms and legs, or even lighting and sound.

The competition provides a sound educational, integrated project to help students progress to real-world problem solving.

Details are available at: http://www.cqjrc.cqu.edu.au/

First prize in the Dance Primary section were the Yeppoon State School 'Love Cats' - Belle Keen, Bonnie Dornom, Caitlin Buttenshaw, Jesse James 
More action from the event 
RoboRoos (2nd Prize Dance - Primary) Morgan Witts, Luke Smoothy, Wade Smoothy 
Luke Smoothy (red shirt) Wade Smoothy