Disappointing SRG

The SRG held this year was rather disappointing. Its probably the smallest event I have ever seen in this last 6 years. NUS only has 1 team participating in the Galdiator competition. And guess what they lost in the first round. NTU didnt bother to come this year.

The withdrawal of the 2 university is not a surprise. Funding has been tight on hardware projects for the past few years. In fact the last 2 years, the robots which were used are the old prototype left behind by past winners. There has been a shift of mindset on the final year project with them focusing more research and programming. Hardware knowledge has been suffering a slow decline. Just ask a grad from electrical engineering if he knows how to read a resistor value and I dare said he wont be able to answer you.

Sadly, this year competition was between the 5 polys (yes republic poly included) and ITE. The challenge is less great although no doubt that poly students normally win in most category. However, poly projects are still very structure by their lecturers. They came about to win only and that means using tried and tested formulas. What you have is a lack of creativity.

Take for example the gladiator competition where the objective is to push the opponent off the board. The tried and tested formula is to build big, heavy robots which uses caterpillar tracks and has a front ramp. Sure enough if you look around, 80% of the robots looks like so. Do they need intelligent? Nay, just a strong motor would do.

I am now afraid to go down next year. There is a need to change the rules and introduce more excitment. Otherwise, they might as well bring back past year project to compete once more.