We are exceptionally proud of the BD Robotics team and their mentor (and the teacher), Mr. Donald Cook. They ended in second place at the SITA CSR Robotics Challenge, bagging R600 000 in Cyber Lab Equipment. What an outstanding achievement!

A word from Mr Cook: The BD team looked so neat and professional during their presentation. (They chose to wear the school shirt to go with the blue bow tie) They were natural and enthusiastic, bubbling with confidence. They hooked the judges, answering the questions without hesitation. They had no sooner returned to their seats when the Deputy Director of SITA asked them to talk to the SABC on behalf of the teams.

The SABC interviewer commented on their no-nonsense cut-to-chase way they answered his questions. He was impressed that they handled the interview so professionally.

The schools showcased their creativity and innovation, developing unique solutions to real-world problems.

1. Protea Heights Academy designed a pill dispenser using an Ardveno microprocessor
2. Wesbank Secondary developed an app and wearable device using NODE MCU \ ESP8266 chip to assist blind learners.
3. Spine Road HS created the MetalSort Robotic Bin that automates metal separation, improving efficiency and accuracy in recycling, and
4. Bredasdorp HS developed a wearable device that alerts a robotic cart when an elderly person falls and brings prescribed medication to a patient, using three micro-bit processors.

Ozias Davhana Secondary School from Limpopo Province won the 1st prize and the third runners up, Ntulabakayise High School of KZN.

Congratulations to Mr. Cook and the gr 9 BDs.

(from left right on photo): Anzia Coetzee, Zoë Coetzee, Mr Donald Cook, Mande Mari Darby and John William Shepherd