Students exhibit robotics skills at Headstart School competition

Islamabad: Headstart School organised a robotics competition, HSRC 2024, on its Kuri Campus here with 100 teams from the country's leading schools and universities participating in it.

The two-day event unfolded across a spectrum of engaging modules, including AEROS, Drone Line of Sight, Drone FPV, RC planes, Maze Runner, Line Tracking, Lego, Logic, and Controller-Based Robots. With a staggering participation of over 350 students, the competition served as a vibrant platform for the manifestation of ingenuity and technical prowess in the realm of robotics, according to manager of the Headstart School’s Robofort Centre for Engineering and Robotics Saadia Habib.

She said the atmosphere buzzed with energy as teams hailing from diverse educational institutions showcased their innovative creations and competed fervently to secure top honours in each category. "The HSRC 2024 event not only underscored the growing enthusiasm for robotics but also provided a fertile ground for fostering collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills among the young participants." Teams from Robotronics Pakistan-Lahore, Comsats University-Wah, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Air University, Isb, Air University-Kamara, Nust CEME University, TMUC, Baitussalam-Talagang, and numerous hobbyists competed fiercely throughout the event.

To ensure fairness, the host school's teams competed against each other, while guest teams faced off exclusively against other guest teams. In the university category, NUST CEME University emerged victorious in most categories, with notable wins in various segments. The Institute of Space and Technology clinched the Maze Runner category, while Comsats-WWah University secured the RC Plane category. Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University earned the second position in controller-based line tracking.

Among schools, Robotronics Pakistan dominated the competition, securing top positions in several categories. Baitussalam claimed victory in the Lego line tracking and controller-based line tracking segments. Ms Habib said the event, which witnessed the participation of various schools and universities, made history with the inclusion of Pakistan's inaugural all-girls' team in the Drone-Line of Sight category. Led by Hadiya Chaudhry and comprising Wania Shehryar and Malal Shiraz, the team showcased remarkable courage and skill as they fearlessly competed against their counterparts. Their participation not only exemplified their individual talents but also shattered stereotypes and inspired others to break barriers, according to Ms Habib. "The HSRC 2024 stands as a testament to the growing interest and talent in robotics across educational institutions in Pakistan, promising a bright future for innovation and technology in the country," she said.