06 Mar 2015
A Dubbo College team of four Year 12 students has been selected as one of three school teams throughout Australia to contest the first 4x4 technology challenge in Melbourne. The team of Kyle Munro, Martin Blattman, Madelaine Fern and Neil Motbey, led by teacher John Miller, will compete in the challenge against one school from Tasmania and another from Queensland.
The team, known as Chaos Robotics, already has valuable experience in the 2014 F1 in schools challenge, having contested the State finals last November.
Mr Miller said he expects that experience to come into play in next week's 4x4 challenge.
"This challenge has been taking place in England for about eight years and this is the first time it has been opened internationally," he said.
"It follows a similar schedule to the Formula one challenge in that the students have to design and produce a miniature version vehicle – in this case a four-wheel drive.
"The vehicle must have head lamps and a tilt-sensor, with students also designing and constructing the shell and adding a towbar."
Like the F1 in schools challenge, the 4x4 technology challenge involves testing of the vehicle in appropriate conditions. The team four-wheel drive will complete a course involving three sections of driving, including tackling obstacles, as well as a trailer-towing exercise.
As part of the competition the team will be judged on its engineering skills, in particular the electronics governing the lights and tilt-sensor. They will also present a pit display, folio and verbal presentation to a panel of three engineers, before the vehicle and design is scrutineered by more engineers.
Should the Dubbo College team take out the competition, the students will have the opportunity to take the vehicle to the world finals in London.
The Chaos Robotics team is excited about next week's competition in Melbourne, but has so far not been successful in raising much-needed sponsorship.
"The total cost of our involvement in the competition is between $4,000 and $5,000 and we are hoping local businesses and community organisations will help us to meet this cost," Martin said.
"We would be really happy to hear from engineering firms or four-wheel drive companies, any businesses or clubs willing to back us in this venture."
Businesses interested in more detail about the College team and its involvement in the 4x4 technology challenge should make contact at:
chaosrobotics15@gmail.com or by phoning Senior Campus on 6882 4655.