A rover on Mars here; a robot on Moon there.
At the Science City on Friday, more than 300 schoolchildren displayed a range of models. There were many executions on one theme — Space.
The installations ranged from rovers to those linked to study of planets.
Tinker Fest 2023, billed as an annual event dedicated to showcasing innovation and creativity through robotics among school children, brought together over 350 students from Classes I to X from schools all over Bengal.
The aim is to stoke interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning, the organisers said.
Manasvi Poddar, in Class IX at The Newtown School, was part of a group that made a model of a rover for a Mars mission.
“Our rover has several features. It has scoops. When the rover moves forward, the scoops are meant to collect sand from the surface. The sand will be carried to a spaceship for tests. The rover has a camera, a temperature meter and sensors to detect obstacles in its path. We also have a solar panel to power the rover,” said Manasvi.
Another table displayed another rover, this one meant to look for traces of life on an imaginary exoplanet (a planet outside the solar system).
“Our rover is designed and programmed using Arduino and Lego robotics to search for a life-sustainable environment. We have used different sensors for temperature, humidity, gas and motion. The rover is also equipped with a 4K camera, an LCD display and solar panel,” said Ritesh Sahu, a student of Class VII at Griffins International School in Kharagpur.
Robots that simulated the Chandrayaan lunar mission and would navigate the harsh Martian terrain were also among the models on display.
Friday’s exhibition at the Science City was the culmination of a series of programmes.
The best exhibits in different categories were awarded by a panel of experts that included scientists.
Tinker Fest is organised by a platform for STEM learning.