Submerged: Exploration of the underwater world by Team Ocean Outlaws’ robotic Manta Ray named Fred
Over the past few decades, the global emphasis on fostering innovation has been driven by the constant evolution of technology, as new advancements continuously replace older ones with more efficient alternatives. Innovation has been directed towards the youth, because their fresh thinking often goes beyond what past generations envisioned. In South Africa, this spirit is encouraged through annual competitions that cultivate innovative thinking, providing young minds a platform for learning, growth, and fun.
Students from Bryanston High School were recently challenged by the First LEGO League, an international robotics competition that guides learners through science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), encouraging youngsters to develop technical skills required in life. The students developed a submersible device that could support marine researchers in the field with oceanographic sampling (Figure 1). They also designed a LEGO robot that they used to complete missions and earn points (Figure 2). Supervised by their teachers, Moaaza Loonat and Demitria Eliades, students Michelle Tshabalala, Sowbarnika Babu, Uriel Phiri, Scott Baker, Praise Emeruh, and Liam Smith (Figure 3) collaborated with SANParks on this project. I) had the privilege of working with them in my role as a marine biotechnician, providing guidance and sharing insights from my experience in marine research. Team Ocean Outlaws, as the students referred to themselves, developed the concept of a robotic manta ray called Fred, which essentially assists researchers by collecting valuable data such as water temperature, salinity, pH, and and biotic samples in the marine environment.
The team’s innovation efforts in the First LEGO League Challenge regionals, held at SciBono in Johannesburg, were rewarded by achieving third place overall. As first-time competitors, this was a massive achievement. This earned them a spot at the National Championships, where they stood out as one of the few groups out of over 60 teams from across South Africa to present a functional prototype of their manta ray project. Their efforts were rewarded with a twelfth-place finish, which qualified them to compete in the Open Africa Championship, an international competition held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre featuring more than 80 teams from across the world. SANParks and its marine team are proud to have supported the Ocean Outlaws from Bryanston High School on their inspiring journey. Their success not only demonstrates the power of youth innovation but also holds promising implications for the future of marine research.
Presentation board of Team Ocean Outlaw with a prototype of Fred the Manta Ray
Team Ocean Outlaw completing LEGO missions to earn points
Teachers and students from Team Ocean Outlaw representing Bryanston High School
