Surat SUMAN school students bags prizes in robotics competition held in Ahmedabad

For the first time, 106 students (from Class 9 to 12) from the SUMAN schools participated in the competition, while 117 students from other schools and around 30 from private schools competed in various STEM-based challenges.

SUMAN school sources said that 12 teams were selected for the National Championship after they won awards across multiple categories — Robo Race, Line Follower, STEM Balloon Car, Young Scientist – All STEM Open, AI Innovator (Junior & Senior), Young Scientist Energy Challenge in the WSRO competition.

The SUMAN school secured first and second positions in the Line Follower challenge, and also received the Judges’ Choice Award in another category — a testament to the students’ creativity, innovation, and strong technical foundation.

These achievements followed advanced training and mentorship provided at the AI & Robotics Lab, established by Shrijitechno Aspire at Surat’s SUMAN school. The lab plays a pivotal role in providing hands-on learning experiences in STEM, AI, and robotics, says Sunil Vankar, AI lab coach at the school.

The WSRO aims to engage young innovators and STEM enthusiasts in a competitive yet educational environment. The event encompasses various challenges that test participants’ technical skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities across a range of robotics and technology-based competitions. Each category is structured to assess specific competencies, such as technical accuracy, innovative thinking, and teamwork.

For the Robo Race Challenge, participants had to design a manually operated robot, wired or wireless, that navigates a challenging race track in the shortest amount of time. The team with the fastest time to complete the course wins. The competition featured a qualifying round for each team.

Line Following Challenge (Non-LEGO) was a premier robotics event designed to challenge participants in autonomous navigation and sensor integration. In this, robots are programmed to detect and follow a continuous black line on a white surface, navigating turns and maintaining speed with precision. The objective is for the robot to complete the course in the shortest possible time without deviating from the track. This challenge emphasises skills in robotics engineering, sensor programming, and path-following algorithms, making it one of the most competitive events globally.

LEGO Line Following Competition is a popular event in the WSRO India Championship that requires participants to design and programme autonomous LEGO robots capable of following a designated path as quickly as possible. Robots are required to detect and follow a continuous black line on a white synthetic field, using precision and speed. The competition tests participants’ skills in robot design, sensor integration, and programming while maintaining adherence to LEGO-based construction standards.

Balloon Car Challenge by WSRO India was designed to inspire creativity, innovation, and teamwork. In this challenge, participants were tasked with designing and constructing a balloon-powered car capable of navigating a track efficiently. The competition highlights fundamental STEM concepts and encourages sustainable practices in design.

Under the category of Young Scientist, All STEM open category, the IoT (Internet of Things) iProtect: A Smart Home System for Energy Saving and Safety (a house model) developed by Barvaliya Heniben Bhagwanbhai, Asodariya Vaishnavi Prafulbhai, was treated as one of the best projects by the judges, and they won a prize. Both of these students are in Class 10 and they got the guidance of mentor Sunil Vankar, STEM and Robotics coach at the SUMAN school.

Bhagwanbhai told this correspondent: “This project ensures safety, automation and remote alerts using ARdunion Nano and IOT-based sensors. The IoT iProtect is a sensor-based innovative automation system designed using an Arduino Nano as the main controller. It is capable of monitoring environmental conditions, controlling appliances, and sending SMS alerts during emergencies such as fire, gas leaks, or unauthorized entry — using a GSM module.” Talking about how the system works, she said:“Temperature and humidity monitoring.”

Their mentor Vankar said, “This system encourages the use of IoT and sensor technology for solving real-life problems. It provides an excellent learning model for students to understand automation, safety systems, and embedded electronics, making it suitable for school exhibitions and innovation fairs.”

Talking to The Indian Express, the SUMAN school’s  administrator Dharmesh Patel said, “This year we have started courses like AI (artificial intelligence), coding, drones, robotics and 3D printing for students from Classes 9 to 12. These subjects are optional for students, and they receive two hours of training each week from our AI and robotics coaches. No extra fees are paid. The main motive behind starting such courses is to develop interest among students in these courses.”

He further added, “Generally, the students in our schools come from weak financial backgrounds, and such courses are taught to students in private schools, which charge high fees. We want our students to also learn such courses.”

Sources stated that the Surat Municipal Corporation operates 26 SUMAN schools in Surat. AI, coding, and robotics are taught in 18 schools, which have a total of 11,000 students from Classes 9 to 12, studying these courses.