Robotics and AI Growing in India: Prominent through World Robot Olympiad Nationals

NOIDA: WRO, or World Robot Olympiad, is one of the world’s largest STEM and Robotics competitions for ages 6 to 19, in which more than 80 countries participate. The theme for this year is ‘My Robot, My Friend’. Winning teams will represent the country at WRO International to be held in Germany, later this year.

Organised by the India STEM Foundation, the national round of WRO took place at Genesis Global School, Noida where this growing friendship between Humans and Robots was made prominent through the excitement and enthusiasm of the participating 123 teams from all across India. These teams were shortlisted from 3 different regional rounds organized earlier this year in Mumbai, Bangalore, and Gurgaon. WRO India is supported by the National Council of Science Museums, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India and is also listed in the must-go competitions list of Atal Innovation Mission, Niti Aayog, Govt. of India.

The Winning teams will represent India at the World Robot Olympiad International in Dortmund, Germany this year. The team names are as follows: – For Robomission Challenge – ‘GameBoyz’ from Elementary, ‘GreenBots’ from Junior, and ‘K2A’ from Senior age category, For Future Innovators Challenge – ‘Electromate’ from Junior, and ‘RoboLectro Kminesist’ from Senior challenge age category. There are a few more teams that were awarded for their exceptional performance: – Team ‘New Age Wheelie’ received the ‘RoboGenius Technical Solution Award‘, Team ‘Scavy’ won the ‘Crimson Start-Up Idea Award’, and team ‘Bulwork’ bagged the ‘RoboGenius Team Spirit Award.’

Speaking during the event, Ms. Madhur Gupta, Principal CBSE, Genesis Global School, said, “We feel honoured to co-host this year’s World Robot Olympiad India at our campus. WRO India has been making extraordinary achievements every year, and the idea of us being a part of it is very gratifying. The possibilities in the world of robotics and artificial intelligence are endless. There is no denying that this is our future, and we want our kids to secure the brightest spot.”

Further to this, she added, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the official WRO Organisers for India ‘India STEM Foundation’ for their unparalleled contribution and also our participants for taking out their precious time and making World Robot Olympiad India 2022 a big success.”

Prof. (Dr.) Preeti Bajaj, VC, Galgotias University, Congratulated the World Robot Olympiad Association and the India STEM Foundation, for hosting the 18th World Robot Olympiad in India and preparing school students in India for the next generation.

Mr. Chitrabhanu Ghosh, Director, Rockwell Automation, said “STEM education is always of interest to Rockwell because it aligns with our company’s sustainability vision to make the world more productive and sustainable, and with our promise of Expanding Human Possibility. Students are the future of our country, making them ready from an early age is of utmost importance to develop every aspect of their life. Competitions like the World Robot Olympiad not only help in making children more competent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics but also develops their overall design thinking and interpersonal skills. I am very proud of the collective efforts our NGO partner, ‘India STEM Foundation’ is putting into championing these great initiatives.”

Mr. Sudhanshu Sharma, Founder of India STEM Foundation, said “He is glad to see the increased participation and interest of the young students in robotics and STEM competitions since the year he launched WRO in India in 2006. But there is still a lot to achieve still. His Organisation – India STEM Foundation, aims to make every single one in India STEM-Ready by making STEM education accessible for everyone.”

He also said that “he looks forward to a day when 100,000 teams will participate in WRO India and wishes to see India as the World STEM leader. He believes competitions like these expand the reasoning of kids and brings their focus to experimental and hands-on learning rather than just consuming academic text, making them more project-oriented and skilful, which will prove to be most essential in the future.”

The world is changing rapidly with ever-growing technologies like robotics and AI, and kids need to be ready for it. Competitions like WRO prepare these kids early on for the upcoming competence and the future. It also encourages these kids to opt for STEM education and learn new skills and technologies.

Skills like coding, robotics, and Artificial intelligence are gaining traction amongst kids, and these skills truly help build critical thinking ability and logic. We as a country need to focus on the skill-development of our Kids so that they lead the future of science and technology and bring prosperity and fame to the Country.

We also need to work towards increased participation of kids in competitions like WRO India. Parents should encourage their children to build teams and partake, and schools should also create and prepare more and more squads for such events.