Robotics and coding competition returns to inspire young innovators at University of Windsor
The Canadian International Robotics and Coding Competition returned to the University of Windsor this weekend, lowering its age limit to promote STEM education to children as young as four years old.
After making its debut with just 32 students participating between the ages of six and 17 last year, the event expanded to welcome 150 students this year.
A junior category was also included this year, allowing for students from the age of four to participate.
The competition on Saturday inside the University of Windsor's CAW Student Centre gave participants an opportunity to build robots and work with coding software to perform a variety of tasks, such as navigating a robot through a maze, shooting a sports ball into a goal and flying a drone.
The teams consisted of students from local schools and community agencies.
"I always say this with them kids. We're not using technology. We're creating the technology," said Ahmed Zaki, founder of Genio-Tech which runs the competition.
"So we're not only competing and playing and having fun but we're building a mentality of the entrepreneur so they will create innovative stuff."
For Zaki, his hope is to see different versions of the competition take place throughout Canada where winning teams compete at a final event in Windsor.
"Hopefully, next season, we will see teams competing from all over Canada," he said.
Nine-year-old Arielle Green was among the 150 students who participated in Saturday's competition.
The fourth grader said she enjoys being able to experiment with coding and robotics because they are traditionally male-dominated sectors."
"It's really cool because there's not a lot of girls who do this. If you're discouraged or you're nervous, still do it. Girls can do anything boys can do," said Green.
Leen Kadri, an 11-year-old student in the sixth grade, said she finds robotics extremely interesting.
"If I want, I can code it to go get me something from the fridge so I don't have to walk there," Kadri said with a laugh, before appealing to other kids who are not interested in STEM education to give it a shot.
"I think you should try robotics. You can actually learn to help people with it. It saves lives."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
The CrowdStrike outage is affecting health-care services in Canada. Here's what you need to know
A global technology outage that's grounded flights and delayed border crossings is also challenging health-care services in the country, as issues with Microsoft services persist.
Quebec woman's death warns of dangers of cosmetic surgery abroad
Brian McConnell's daughter, Florence McConnell, died after a liposuction surgery complication in Morocco. Now, he warns others against undergoing cosmetic surgeries abroad.
Interior residents get ready to flee as B.C. fire tally soars past 300
The out-of-control Shetland Creek fire in British Columbia's southern Interior has more than doubled in size due to what the wildfire service describes as "significant overnight growth" and more accurate mapping.
Polar bear 'Baffin' dies at Calgary Zoo after not resurfacing from pool
A polar bear died in its enclosure at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo on Friday.
'I feel cheated': Here are the products hit hardest by shrinkflation
Canadians who feel like they are getting less bang for their buck at the grocery store these days might be right. A new report shows the effects of shrinkflation are real.
Tentative deal to end LCBO strike on hold as province accuses union of introducing new demands
The LCBO strike appears to be back on just hours after a tentative agreement was announced.
Woman guilty of murdering, dismembering boyfriend in Nanaimo, B.C.
A 28-year-old British Columbia woman has been found guilty of killing and dismembering her boyfriend on Vancouver Island nearly four years ago.
opinion Trump's assassination attempt not a political winner
Danger and fear are so pervasive throughout the national political ethos it is now the norm, writes Washington political columnist Eric Ham.
What a Donald Trump presidency means for Canada
The most striking thing about walking the floor of the Republican National Convention (RNC) is seeing just how much this is Donald Trump's party, CTV News' Vassy Kapelos says.