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Malayan High School of Science among top 5 in robotics competition for HS students

Friday, March 14, 2014 The Malayan High School of Science (MHSS) robotics team, Team Kidlat, shone anew in Tagisang Robotics, a varsity type robotics competition for high school students organized by Department of Science and Technology–Science Education Institute, last November 19-21 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, placing 5th among 35 high schools in Metro Manila.

“Tagisang Robotics 2013: Design, Build, and Play” sought to expose high school students to the interesting and challenging life of engineers and researchers through robotics. The goal was to build a robot that is able to compete in a fun-filled game of modified soccer, taking on roles of a goalie or a striker.

Team Kidlat, successor of Team Sindak, which bagged the Best Rookie Award in MHSS’s maiden year in the competition, placed fifth with its entry Terabot.

“Banking on our experience in the 2012 Tagisang Robotics, Team Kidlat was able to design and build a robot flexible enough to be a goalie and a striker,” said MHSS robotics team adviser and teacher Dhonny Bacuyag. “Our performance last year showed us everything we needed in building the right robot this year, preventing the same problems we experienced last year from occurring again.”

Team Kidlat carefully designed Terabot, paying particular attention to its weight.

“Considering the goal of the competition, we made sure that our entry is heavy and stable so that it wouldn’t be pushed back by other robots and it wouldn’t be flipped over. Its size, however, does not exceed the 2x2x2 feet limitation, and it is not that large so the wheels could run with ease,” shared 4th year student and team leader Marian Jessica L. Quing.

The MHSS robotics team used slotted posts for the main welding and wood for the placement of the motors. Terabot also has a built-in pneumatic system, a tank that allows pressure to build up, in order to trigger a force to push the sepak takraw once it is inside the bot.

According to Bacuyag, this win has established MHSS as one of the forerunners in robotics, which does not only boost the team's morale but the school's pride as well.

The members of Team Kidlat were John Cedric I. Custodio, Kyle Nathan V. Fazonela, Darrenson C. Lawas, Nina Isabel C. Duque, Carlitos Gines Miguel D. Buendia, Sophia Isabel A. Bernardo, Juan Paolo E. Seraspi, John Aldreen A. Arcelao, Jedel JB R. Agron, and team leader Marian Jessica L. Quing.