Saskatchewan Polytechnic sent SUMO robot kits to high schools that registered from across the province for the competition. Teachers worked with their students for the past couple of months to build, program and test their robots in preparation for the competition. Working in teams of two, participants demonstrate their problem-solving skills, technical knowledge and teamwork in friendly competition with other students.
"The robot rumble allows high school students who are interested in electronics to engage in a friendly competition with their provincial peers," says Brenda Suru, Saskatchewan Polytechnic's acting dean of the School of Mining, Energy and Manufacturing. "They get some hands-on skills and experience with electronics and then get to demonstrate it in a fun way."
In each competition, two SUMObots face off against each other in a ring. The goal is to stay in the ring while pushing the opposing robot out of the ring. The robot that stays in the ring the longest wins the match and moves on to the next round.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic electronics grads work with business, industry and government employers in areas such as manufacturing, communications, resource processing and consulting. With starting salaries for recently surveyed graduates of Saskatchewan Polytechnic electronics-related programs ranging from $2,100 to $4,800 per month, it's a solid career choice.
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