ROBOKAR : ROBOT PROGRAMMING WORKSHOP

Students’ Feedback (Reflection)  

What you have learned from the workshop?

This workshop has benefited us in a lot of ways. Firstly, this workshop has highlighted the importance of creative and critical thinking in solving problems within a short period of time. Majority of the groups’ robots passed the obstacle course. However, there were two groups’ robots that run very smoothly and without doubt faster than others. This explains a lot on how creative and critical thinking in writing the program will give the finest results. Secondly, this workshop has given everyone the opportunity to be involved in a robot related activity. The presenters did a good job in explaining how the robots work with the program written. Other than that, we have also learnt on how to program a simple robot, which is a wonderful experience that might help us as learning how to code is the fundamental of software engineering. We also learnt that we have to learn from our mistakes in order to improve. Each time we upload the codings into the robokar, we would test it afterwards just so we can take a mental note on how it works and how it could be improvised.

The workshop also improves team-working skills which is an important skill that should be sharpened in order to secure a better job. Everyone was entitled to their own opinions on how the robokar should be coded. Thus, we ended up testing each of the codings suggested just so we could come to a mutual agreement at the end. It was when we combined our ideas that we were finally satisfied. Even though it was not perfect, but everyone was happy that the robot managed to complete the obstacle course. Teamwork skills were definitely sharpened during the workshop. Through that, I learnt that teamwork makes the dream work. This workshop was an eye opener to some of us since it helped us not only learn more about programming, but also made us want to try advanced stuff related to these kind of style. Some of us joined the robokar team because of it.

Moreover, we learnt that every problem in life has a way of completing it, it was not always one way in order to complete a certain problem. When it comes to redoing a work that has been done before, many people thought that there is no other way of doing it rather than the way it was done before. Not everything in life must be done in one way, if it works, it works! 

How does this workshop impact on your goal/dream with regard to your program?  

It cannot be denied that by participating in Robokar: Robot Programming Workshop, we have successfully gained new knowledge that surely will impact us as the future software engineers. First and foremost, the workshop has made us realize that our program, Software Engineering acts as one of the important forces for the human being to achieve success in terms of technology. On top of that, the inventions of great software and programs are also the primary factors that have and will help the human to create new inventions of technology that are beyond the expectations. For instance, in our group, some of us have never been involved in any kind of program related to robot programming workshop. All of us were very excited during the process of programming the Robokar. Each of us brainstorm and discuss on how to make the perfect program in order to make the Robokar move smoothly on the track given. It made us realize that Software Engineering does not solely focuses on one thing. It is in fact, very wide and that we should explore more about it. It also made us realise that we will be dealing with the future. With this prior knowledge of robotic programming, it must be useful. Especially when the world will rely on machines and robots soon in the future. We were often told that we are the future. Because of that, we should be working harder to satisfy the helpful needs of the future generations.

What is the action/improvement/plan necessary for you to improve your potential in the industry?

Our plan to improve our potential in the industry is by participating in a lot of workshops related to software engineering. By participating in these kinds of workshops, we can gain new skills that cannot be obtained from lectures. Lectures and classes mainly teach theories. By participating in these workshops, we can get more insight on how this industry works. These workshops can also teach me to think creatively and critically in problem solving. Moreover, we believe that we have to gain more knowledge regarding the issues influencing technology throughout the world and that we must try to be more open minded and listen to the users’ concern regarding technology to be able to relate to them and create a solution. It would also be better if we pay some contributions to projects for experience and to enhance our credibility. In order to be successful and noble employees, we should never look down on the ethical values we need to implement when dealing with technologies. We develop technologies or applications with the sole purpose of helping people and to ease their work. It should never be something that could bring disadvantages and lead to non-moral activities. In this case, it all depends on us whether to use our potential for the good things or be hooked to the bad side. Thus, it is necessary to improve on implementing good values in ourselves.