Space Centre Engages Students’ Imagination With Robotic Design Challenge
Earlier this year, the HR MacMillan Space Centre—supported by the Canadian Space Agency; Imperial Oil; MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA); and APEGBC—launched the Canadarm 2020 Challenge, an educational initiative designed to introduce grade 8 to 10 students to space robotics. In this problem-based learning challenge, students were asked to build a prototype of a robotic arm that would be able to perform a series of tasks for an imaginary lunar colony in the year 2020, and then to present their proposal to a panel of judges.
Students, in teams of three or four, designed and built the robotic arms and created sales presentations. On June 5, students from Cambie Secondary and Southpointe Academy represented their schools at the competition hosted by the Space Centre. The judging panel was comprised of representatives from each of the sponsor organizations. Mike Wrinch, P.Eng., Chair of the Vancouver Branch, was the judge for APEGBC.
The competition included a video conference with the Canadian Space Agency, and an address by an MDA engineer. The winning team was invited to the MDA office (makers of the Canadarm2) in Richmond for a day of job shadowing.
As a part of its ongoing career awareness and outreach efforts, APEGBC contributed by sponsoring the purchase of supplies to build the robots, as well supplying prizes for the competition. APEGBC is proud to support this learning initiative, which introduces students to the relevant real-world application of creativity and problem-solving skills that are at the heart of the engineering profession.
More information on the Canadarm 2020 Challenge, or other Space Centre Outreach programs can be found on the HR MacMillan Space Centre website: www.hrmacmillanspacecentre.com/outreach.htm.