Robots were once senseless machines helping humans do mundane chores. But these days they can dance, play sport, and navigate through obstacles to find people in need of help.
These abilities make up the different categories of the RoboCup Junior Hong Kong Open Competition.
The event broadens students' career horizons and boots their self-confidence by enhancing their interest in electronic research.
Feeling the rhythm of music and moving to it is no longer just a human skill - robots can now do it as well.
Musical machinations
The Buddhist Ho Nam Kam College robotics team designed five robots to compete in RoboCup Junior Hong Kong Open Competition 2016 AI Robot Dance category.
Their machines won.
Each robot was designed by a different team member, so synching the machines' movement was difficult.
Team leader Wong Chung-fai said: "All five robots were handmade with aluminium panels. That's why there were deviations among them. We had to adjust the programme and this increased the difficulty."
Labour of love
Wong will be a Form 4 student in the new academic year. He joined the school robotics team in Form 1.
In the three years since then, he has stayed at school after hours each day to do his homework so he has time to work on his robots afterwards.
"My first impression of robots was that they were very cool. I like to try new things, so I joined the robotics team three years ago and learned how to design and make robots."
His team have competed in the RoboCup event since 2005. They have taken part in other competitions as well, including the International Robotic Olympiad and the Robot Boxing League Hong Kong.
Wong said this competition experience has improved his ability to deal with life's challenges.
"Teachers were not allowed to advise us during the competition. We had to handle different unexpected situations. For example, the robots always broke down during the competition. We had to replace electric wires or motors when they did not function well."
Career confidence
Now with three years of robot-making experience, Wong has chosen science as an elective subject in Form 4.
The team's robotics advisor, teacher Li Chi-wang, said the robot-making experience has strengthened the students' knowledge of physics and chemistry, and improved their self-confidence.
"When the students participate in international competitions they encounter professional players. They know their robots are not strong enough to win, so they must compete seriously and try their best.
"Going up against different competitors and challenges cultivates their self-confidence."
Mr Li said he hopes the Education Bureau will allocate more resources to support local robotics competitions to encourage schools to take part in overseas competitions.
He said the move will promote Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics, or STEM, education which was tabled in the 2015 Policy Address.
RoboCup Junior Hong Kong Association Chairman Maverick Luk said promoting STEM education will encourage more local schools to compete in the RoboCup event.
The Government's Enriched IT Programme in Secondary Schools provides funds to develop students' interest in information technology by incorporating enrichment classes, such as workshops on robot building, to nurture a new generation of science and technology pundits.
