The Tech Challenge is a prestigious international robotics competition designed to ignite passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among high school students. Teams of young school-going “engineers” are tasked with building and programming robots to perform specific tasks in competitive matches, which are designed to mimic real-world engineering challenges. Each season, teams face a brand-new robotics game and, within about four months, must design, build and refine a robot to outscore their opponents. At the 2024 FTC World Championships, over 200 teams from across the globe vied for the coveted title.
Texpand, a community team based in Cape Town, comprises students aged 12 to 17 from a diverse range of backgrounds. The team embodies the spirit of inclusivity, embracing diversity in terms of gender, race, geography and socio-economic status. Their passion for STEM, coupled with their mission to make robotics accessible to students across South Africa, has driven them to success on national and international stages.
“A turning point for our 2024 season came when igus, through its young engineer support programme, donated various polymer components including Drylin linear guides, telescopic rail slides and energy chains,” said team director and mentor Greg Buckle.
“Our lightweight design enabled us to build our innovative robotic arm with seven degrees of freedom – a feature that was instrumental in sealing our victory. The prismatic joint, built with a low-profile linear rail, also allowed the arm to extend laterally across the gameboard, providing the robot with an exceptional range of motion. Its prismatic joint enabled us to score game points more efficiently by reducing the time needed for driving, allowing our robot to handle game elements while competitors were still positioning their machines.”
Texpand’s win not only demonstrated their engineering prowess but also earned them the coveted first place control award. This award recognises innovative thinking in solving game challenges through autonomous operation, intelligent control and integration of sensors. Their robot's exceptional control system, driven by igus' advanced mechanical solutions, was a defining feature that helped them dominate the competition.
“Following our victory, we have launched our IGNITE programme – an international initiative aimed at expanding robotics education in South Africa. Through this programme, we hope to secure more resources and sponsorship to start new teams and provide opportunities for young students across the country to participate in FTC. We want our success at the world championships to highlight the potential of South Africa's youth and underscore the importance of corporate support in fostering this talent,” Buckle said.
The team’s success was assisted in part by high-tech polymer components donated by polymer supplier, igus, whose contribution played a valuable role in enabling the team to achieve world-class performance.
“The victory not only highlighted the potential of South Africa's youth in the global robotics arena but also showcased how the collaboration between industry and education can lead to extraordinary results,” add
