National Junior Robotics Competition

The National Junior Robotics Competition or "NJRC" is organised by Science Centre, Singapore and supported by the Ministry of Education, and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research.^[1] This annual competition started off in 1999 with 167 teams from 70 schools.^[2] In the competition, teams of not more than 5 students build a robot using the Lego Mindstorms kit. Competitors are divided into three categories, Upper Primary Division, for Primary 4 to Primary 6 students, Lower Secondary Division, for secondary 1 to secondary 3 students, and Tertiary Division, for 1st and 2nd year ITE/JC/Poly students.^[3] In 2007, 13 schools participated in the competition, sending a total of 37 teams.^[4]

Championship Award Winners

2011

River Valley High School (Tertiary Division)
Hwa Chong Institution (Secondary Division)
Chua Chu Kang Primary School (Upper Primary Division)

2010

River Valley High School (Tertiary Division)
River Valley High School (Secondary Division)
Rulang Primary School (Upper Primary Division)

2009

NUS High School of Mathematics and Science (Tertiary Division)
Bukit Panjang Government High School (Secondary Division)
Lianhua Primary School (Upper Primary Division)

2008

Hwa Chong Institution (Tertiary Division)
River Valley High School (Secondary Division)
Rulang Primary School (Upper Primary Division)

2007

Hwa Chong Institution (Tertiary Division)
Chua Chu Kang Primary School (Upper Primary Division)
Swiss Cottage Secondary School (Lower Secondary Division)

2006

Chua Chu Kang Primary School (Upper Primary Division)
Admiralty Secondary School (Lower Secondary Division)

2005

Compassvale Primary School (Upper Primary Division)
Admiralty Secondary School (Lower Secondary Division)

2004

Cedar Primary School (Upper Primary Division)
Admiralty Secondary School (Lower Secondary Division)

2003

Evergreen Primary School (Upper Primary Division)
Admiralty Secondary School (Lower Secondary Division)

2002

Queenstown Primary School (Upper Primary Division)
Fuhua Secondary School (Lower Secondary Division)

2001

Rulang Primary School (Upper Primary Division)
Hua Yi Secondary (Lower Secondary Division)

2000

Rulang Primary School (Upper Primary Division)
CHIJ Toa Payoh (Lower Secondary Division)

1999

Riverside Secondary School (Lower Secondary Division)

National Junior Robotics Competition Milestones

2008

• The first mission of the challenge involves knocking down drink cans of 330ml each.
• The mission also involves a second mission which is a secret mission. They are made known to the Pri and Sec Sch teams a few days before the actual challenge. The tertiary teams only know the secret mission on the actual day of the challenge.
• 10th anniversary of National Junior Robotics Competition
• Hwa Chong Institution won the National Junior Robotics Competition Championship for 2 years consecutively in the Tertiary Division. They also clinched the Best Robot Performance Award in the Tertiary Division, making them the big winner at the 10th NJRC.
• River Valley High won the championship for secondary division for the first time.
• Rulang Primary School reclaimed their status as the robotics champion for upper primary division from Chua Chu Kang Primary School, which won the championship for 2006 and 2007.

2007

• The introduction of the Lego Mindstorms NXT system
• The mission had two storeys
• The teams had to present a video footage to showcase the team's entire learning journey instead of the usual journal
• The introduction of new category involving ITE/JC/Poly(1st year & 2nd year) students
• For the first time in National Junior Robotics Competition's history, the judges allowed Admiralty Secondary School to have a rerun for the mission. This was because the playfield was not up to standard as structural errors were experienced. The playfield which Admiralty Secondary School ran on had its deformities, resulting in the playfield's base to be unbalanced. Thus, many of Admiralty Secondary School's robots were unable to complete the missions during the first run.It was after several deliberations and negotiations before the decision was announced to allow Admiralty Secondary School a second run for the mission so as to make sure the teams are playing under fair grounds.
• Chua Chu Kang Primary School won the championship award for the upper primary category for 2 years consecutively, with full marks for the surprise mission during the Grand Finals.

2006

• Robots have to travel in 5 cm deep waters
• The mission had an elevator
• The playing field was constructed using acrylic
• Admiralty Secondary School won the National Junior Robotics Competition Championship for 4 years consecutively.

2005

• The mission had three storeys
• The mission had stairs
• Admiralty Secondary School won the National Junior Robotics Competition Championship for 3 years consecutively.

2004

• Teams were given 7 missions to work on
• Mobile phones were not allowed to be used by competitors during competition
• Teams were not provided with the playing field to use at their own home ground. Only selected schools were provided
• All teams in the Primary school section achieved zero points in the surprise mission
• “The Best Robot Performance Award” was decided from the interview sessions.
• Admiralty Secondary School won the National Junior Robotics Competition Championship for 2 years consecutively.

2003

• The mission had two storeys

2002

• Non-competitors were not allowed in the pit areas to prevent unfair advantages
• The playing mat was made out of printed paper and not black sticky tape
• The "Surprise mission" was revealed on the Finals itself.

2001

• Teams were allowed to use two light sensors and one rotation sensor
• The "Surprise mission" was introduced. The surprise mission was revealed the day before the Finals.

2000

• Teams were given objects to collect and deliver
• The competition had two missions
• The mission had ramps

1999

• First held at the World Trade Centre, now known as Harbourfront Centre/Vivocity

Past National Junior Robotics Challenge Themes

• 2010: RoBIOtics
  • Biodiversity & the roles scientists play in helping to conserve it

• 2008: Saving Earth
  • Destroying a dam that is inefficient

• 2007: Climate Change
  • Emergency on rising sea level

• 2006: Rig Attack
  • Oil and future energy

• 2005: Excavation Survey Team: ~H2O~
  • Sources of water

• 2004: JOCARA Voyage of Dr John POTTER^[3]
  • The living creatures in the ocean

• 2003: Bermuda Triangle
  • About the Bermuda Triangle

• 2002: Superheroes
  • Forest fires and oil spill

• 2001: Nanobots in Innerspace
  • Nanotechnology

• 2000: Mission Mars
  • About Mars

• 1999 Antarctica
  • The Antarctica expedition

References

1. ^ "National Junior Robotics Competition 2007 website". Archived from the original on 4 August 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070804234659/http://www.science.edu.sg/ssc/events.jsp?type=17&root=0&parent=0&cat=317. Retrieved 22 July 2007. 
2. ^ "An Introduction to NJRC". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070930155810/http://www.science.edu.sg/ssc/ibrowse.jsp?artid=7607&type=17&root=317&parent=317&cat=335&stat=Preview&print=1. Retrieved 22 July 2007. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "National Junior Robotics Competition 2007 Challenge Manual". http://www.science.edu.sg/ssc/upload/mid1/type9/cat0/7666_312_Challenge%20Manua14JUly07.doc. Retrieved 22 July 2007. ^{[dead link]}
4. ^ "Green Denmark Award launched to encourage students to fight climate change". http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/294710/1/.html. Retrieved 13 October 2010. 

External links

• National Junior Robotics Competition website (Updated yearly on challenge). Accessed 18 July 2007