4Tel and 4AI Systems supported an exciting RoboCup Junior workshop hosted by Rutherford Technology High School on the 3rd of June. The event brought together a vibrant cohort of over 55 students and educators for an intensive day of hands-on learning and problem-solving in robotics.
The workshop served as an inclusive, high-energy platform for students from all backgrounds to collaborate, innovate, and have fun. This initiative underscores the dedicated partnership between local schools, industry leaders at 4AI Systems and 4Tel, and RoboCup Junior, to advance robust STEM education within dynamic learning environments.
The opportunity attracted diverse regional participation, including 30 students from Years 8-10 at Rutherford Technology High School, 10 students from Lochinvar Public School, 5 students from Bolwarra Public School (ranging from Years 4–6), and 11 students and teachers from Maitland Grossmann High School.
Engaging in a variety of rapid-coding activities, the teams tackled mini-challenges tailored specifically around the RoboCup Junior Rescue discipline, testing their skills in autonomous navigation and real-time logic.
Expert mentors from 4Tel, 4AI Systems and RoboCup Junior Hunter provided invaluable guidance throughout the day, ensuring a fun, educational, and deeply inspiring experience. The mentoring team included:
- Dr. Aaron Wong (4AI Systems AI Engineering Manager, former NUbots Team Leader, Technical Chair RoboCup Junior Hunter)
- Mr. Jason Flood (Chair of RoboCup Junior Hunter, Vice Chair of RoboCup Junior NSW)
- Mr. Jason Disher (Software Developer at 4AI Systems, former NUbots member)
- Ms. Anuska Neupane (Project Officer at 4AI Systems)
The generous sponsorship, hardware access, and engineering expertise provided by 4Tel and 4AI Systems played a crucial role in the day’s success, highlighting the company’s ongoing commitment to fostering the next generation of regional tech innovators.
Rutherford Technology High School draws from a wide geographic area of 1,400 students and has a proud history of competing in RoboCup Junior events in the years leading up to 2020. This workshop marks a concerted effort to revitalise that competitive edge and encourage widespread student participation.
This momentum is heavily accelerated by recent collaborative developments. Shane Dryden, from the Hunter Academy of STEM Excellence, joined the RoboCup Junior Hunter Region committee this year, actively championing the competition as the ultimate capstone goal for STEM activities across local schools. This shared alignment allows for broader, equitable access to AI, engineering, and robotics at a younger age. Reflecting this incredible community push, this latest workshop effectively doubled in size compared to the previous event in 2024, where workshop participation was at 25 students.
We look forward to seeing the continued growth of these students as they prepare for the Annual Regional Competition on 30th of July at the University of Newcastle. The upcoming tournament promises to be a landmark opportunity for these young engineers to showcase their achievements and further reinforce the region’s commitment to excellence in STEM.
