KUALA LUMPUR: Young innovators from SK Long Sait, Sarawak, have successfully reached the Grand Finals of the Petrosains RBTX Challenge 2024 with their project, The Irrigator, which demonstrates their STEM skills and addresses drought issues affecting their community’s rice fields.
Their invention automates crop watering, monitors plant health, and incorporates fencing to protect crops from wildlife, essential for the livelihoods of the Ulu Baram community.
Participant Somsiellnia Zachary, 12, expressed pride in her team’s accomplishment, hopeful that healthier crops and higher yields will benefit both her family and the wider community.
“Each season, villagers face the challenge of dying crops due to water shortages and wildlife invasion,” as stated by Petronas in a press release, Monday (Oct 28).
The team previously secured victory in the Tech4All category in Sarawak, gaining recognition for their community-focused and innovative solution.
Joshua, the team’s teacher and advisor, said it was a first for students from SK Long Sait to enter a competition of this scale, expressing hopes that his students would continue to generate ideas that benefit their community.
A new “Indigenous Culture & Technology” sub-category under the Innovation category was introduced this year, drawing 267 Indigenous children from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak.
According to Petrosains, this initiative aims to foster digital inclusion, equipping Indigenous students with essential STEM skills for a sustainable future.
In the Innovation: Net Zero Carbon Emissions (NZCE) category, SMS Kota Tinggi’s team, SAKTI SERENE, won with a project focused on creating sustainable furniture from recycled textiles.
Meanwhile, MCR from Indonesia earned second place with their Sea Wind Turbine project, designed to aid night-time lobster fishing, and siblings from SJKC Union in Penang won third place with their 4-in-1 Smart Tong for waste sorting.
Now in its sixth year, the Petrosains RBTX Challenge drew more than 7,000 participants from 1,952 teams across Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia.
The competition provides training in essential robotics skills, including design, coding, and sensor technology, as part of Petrosains’ mission to inspire STEM literacy in communities.
Ezarisma Azni Mohamad, chief executive officer of Petrosains Sdn Bhd, highlighted the event’s alignment with Petronas’ sustainability goals and its commitment to creating a more sustainable future.
“We are honoured to inspire and enhance STEM literacy, promoting sustainable practices among young innovators,” she said.
The champions across all categories received cash prizes, with winners awarded RM2,500, second place RM1,500, and third RM1,000.
Ikedo Kogeki from Negeri Sembilan, winner of the Robo Sumo 3kg category, also received a pass to compete in the All-Japan Robot Sumo Tournament in Tokyo this December.
The Petrosains RBTX Challenge 2024 began in May, with workshops and qualifying rounds across Malaysia, culminating in the Grand Finals on Oct 26 and 27 at Stadium Juara, Bukit Kiara.
List of Champions are, for Innovation Category, won by Net Zero Carbon Emissions: SAKTI SERENE (Johor), Indigenous Culture & Technology: SK Kampong Layau (Johor).
As for Robo Sumo Category, for 500g won by RC: Sqandar RC (Perak), for 1kg won by Xenix Sumo 10 (Selangor) and for 3kg won by Ikedo Kogeki (Negeri Sembilan).
For Robo Tracer Category, won by Green Heroes: Speedfighter (Pahang), Tech Marvels: SLIBOT (Melaka), and Speed Rivals: Rampas Barokah (Indonesia).
