Individuals
Current offerings
CORE @ Tinkertanker
Reunion
As our time at STEAM Engine came to an end, we thought hard about where we were going next. Thanks to the amazing people we work with (companies and individuals alike), we had some great options available at short notice. In the end, we came a full circle, ending back up where we started, but this time, operating as an independent company rather than a sub-brand. Why? In short, Tinkertanker has an environment and culture of making we love.
Back to robotics
With NRC (WRO) 2021 coming right up, we have little time to waste. Our teams have settled in and ready to go once again in their new home.
Join the team
Our next intake will be a Developmental Program starting in December, which will lead into the Competitive (Robocup Rescue Line) Program. Do contact us ASAP to learn more as vacancies are limited!
What we’ve done
CORE @ STEAM Engine
Background
In 2019, we moved in with STEAM Engine to exploit our synergy with Duck Learning, then the official distributor of LEGO Education and Arduino Education in Singapore.
Acquainted during our time as participants of the National Junior Robotics Competition, FIRST Lego League, and the SiTF Awards, we would go on to play major roles in the organization of the National Robotics Competition (2017, 2019, 2021, 2023), as well as the FIRST Lego League (2018, 2019).
Having been in the competitive robotics scene since 2006, we were able to develop creative solutions to overcome the constraints of each competition, informing the planning (venue setup, scheduling etc.) and execution phases (as Chief Referees and Judges) at these events organized by Duck Learning.
EV3 Developmental and Competitive Curriculum and Training
Our goal in co-locating ourselves was to further this partnership by conducting developmental and competitive robotics classes at their premises based on the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 and Arduino platforms.
Unfortunately COVID had other plans, and enrichment centers were hit hard. We had to re-invent our approach to deliver the best learning outcomes without physical sessions. Through the 2020 lockdowns, we did at Steam Engine what we did with schools. Over Zoom, we used CoSpace, a purely virtual platform, to impart skills. Our U12 kids adapted particularly well, as we went on to place 3rd at the Asia Pacific level, and 1st and 2nd at Robocup Singapore Open.
2021 saw our team hit new levels. Our Rescue Line U12 team won the only Presentation award, the Best Logbook Award, as well as the Best Technical Challenge Award, becoming the only team to be placed in the Distinction tier. In similar fashion, our Rescue Line U19 team won 2 out of the 3 presentation awards, the Best Presentation, and Best Logbook Awards, with the final presentation award going to our school-based team. The team also won the Best Technical Challenge Award in commanding fashion, and was also placed in the Distinction tier for their age group.
Alas, in July 2021, STEAM Engine made plans to shift online owing to the difficulties of holding on to a physical location used exclusively for classes amidst the uncertainties surrounding COVID, bringing the CORE @ Steam Engine chapter to a close.
TinkerCORE
Background
In 2017, fresh out of National Service, we decided to explore our options to grow CORE. Naturally, we went with Tinkertanker as they were the ones who started us off on this journey (along with Dr. Tan Guoxian) during our days as students of Raffles Institution through the INVENT program.
Building Learning Spaces
One aspect we were drawn to was the fully equipped Makerspace at Tinkertanker, which allowed us to build what we could never have at our own homes.
One such project was the EV3 workstation built to create the environment most conducive for creation to take place. Starting with a Billy Bookcase from IKEA, some plywood, and a bunch of woodworking supplies, we strove to build a system where parts were clearly visible and at arms length even for kids with a shorter reach.
Events and Exhibitions
Throughout the 2 years we were there, we exhibited with and for Tinkertanker at events such as IMDA’s Tech Saturday, GETUP! at Our Tampines Hub, our internal Open Houses, the National Robotics Competition, as well as Maker Faire.
EV3 and Arduino Developmental and Competitive Curriculum and Training
Of course, we kept at what we’ve been doing, and will always do, building content and developing students using platforms such as LEGO Mindstorms EV3 (with EV3-G and Python), Stud.io, Arduino (with C++) and OpenMV (with MicroPython)
One highlight we had was at the 2019 edition of the National Robotics Competition, where we placed 2nd for the Best Presentation Award and made the Run Finals in the World Robot Olympiad category. This meant a lot to us as it is difficult, as a private team, to go up against schools which have 6 or more hours of Co-Curricular Activity time and do well without spoon-feeding our kids.
Drone Program
One of the last things we did for Tinkertanker as Tinkercore was the development of their drone program. From selecting a system, to liaising with potential partners such as DJI and Garuda Robotics, to procurement, curriculum development and content creation, and finally coming up with proposals and running actual events, we were happy to be able to use our expertise to educate the masses about a technology that will become increasingly commonplace.
This is something we continue to work with Tinkercademy on today as CORE.
The Keys Academy
EV3 and Arduino Developmental and Competitive Curriculum and Training
In 2015, just a year after CORE was originally founded, we were roped in by Tinkertanker to be part of an ambitious project set up by Dr. Ayesha Khanna, having been identified as a leading company in Robotics Education. With an internationally awarded crew, we were tasked to develop “externships” for students to apply their skills in robotics.
To achieve this, we developed 2 structured levels of 24 hours, an unstructured, 12-hour, project based level aiming to develop prototypes to solve world problems, a competitive FIRST LEGO League experience, as well as an Arduino program.
Through this combination of programs, we were table to cover concepts like multi-robot co-ordination, which is not something found in major robotics tournaments. However, the importance of these concepts are beginning to become apparent with ROS2 implementing a Swarm Framework and competitions such as FLL and Robocup’s Rescue Line Superteam component testing these capabilities.
One interesting project done with the Arduino was to use a basic ultrasound (HC-SR04) and IMU (GY-951) to create a 360 degree map of the surroundings. Programmed with C++ and Processing and transmitted over a custom Serial Protocol, it was definitely a good attempt for a system that is under SGD50. Today, roboticists are working hard at refining these maps to allow for robots to navigate, relying on cameras and spinning LiDARS which may cost upwards of USD70,000.
Camps
Apart from regular courses, we also helped with designing material for Holiday Camps, giving kids an exposure to robotics through problems such as navigating the Martian surface. These camps were designed to be short modules where kids could think holistically about a problem before implementing a technological solution.
Schools
Raffles Institution (Secondary)
Infocomm Club (Robotics)
CORE was brought in in 2019 to revitalize the Infocomm Club which slowed down after we left the club in 2012.
In 2019, we focused on 3 specially selected students who had close to no experience in robotics, teaching them everything from Electronics with the Arduino and Teensy to Computer Aided Design (CAD) with AutoCAD.
With 3 months of training, they went on to win the Robocup Junior Soccer Lightweight Category in Singapore, along with the Technical Challenge Award.
A further 3 months later, they represented Singapore at Robocup Sydney 2019, placing 5th Internationally and became the Superteam Champions.
We are currently building on this success, attempting to reach out to a larger group of students to participate in competitions such as the National Robotics Competition (World Robot Olympiad), and Robocup.
Currently, we are working with the platforms mentioned above, as well as the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 system, with programming done in MicroPython, and CAD with Stud.io.
Computer Studies
Back in 2016, we were also contracted by the Computer Studies Department to design a Physical Computing Module based on Arduino and C++, compulsory for all students.
We based the module around a kit we put together, utilizing a Tamiya Chassis, the Sparkfun Redboard, and a bunch of components sourced from Chinese manufacturers to teach students concepts from Digital Signals to Protocols, as well as Robotics Algorithms.
Gap Semester
With COVID possibly forcing Gap Semester to go virtual, we were asked if CORE could come up with an IT-related module. Having evaluated that outcomes will be compromised attempting to teach robotics virtually, we proposed a Computer Vision course, enabling students to develop their own interactive filters with Python and OpenCV, much like what they would see in popular social media applications like Instagram and Snapchat.
Raffles Institution (Junior College)
Club Automatica
We left Club Automatica in 2014 and came back as soon as we could in 2015 (when we were done with the Basic Military Training phase of our National Service).
Our first batch would turn out to be stellar, winning the Best Programming Award (1st), Best Research Award (1st), Best Presentation Award (2nd) and the Best Journal Award (2nd) en-route to becoming champions of the National Junior Robotics Competition Tertiary Division in 2015- a dream start to their first 3 months of robotics training for most of the batch.
They would go on to represent Singapore at the World Robot Olympiad in Qatar, where their lack of experienced showed when they could not translate a full score practice run into a similar showing at the actual run.
This impressive run continued into Robocup, where they won both the Soccer and Rescue categories, proceeding to Robocup Leipzig 2016 where the Soccer team managed a Top 10 finish, with the Rescue team bagging an award for 3rd in the Superteam event.
Over the years, we have gone on to win more awards across the 2 competitions, developing on platforms such as Arduino/Teensy, EV3, Stud.io, AutoCAD, OpenMV (MicroPython) and the Raspberry Pi (with Python and OpenCV).
In 2020, COVID took away our physical training sessions. Undaunted, we did what we did best, shifting our attention to Robocup Cospace Rescue, which was to be help in a purely virtual format.
The International Cospace Online Challenge was the first time the club took part in this competition, yet we blew the competition away, taking home 7 awards after some stellar performances.
We followed up on this showing at Virtual Robocup Asia Pacific, grabbing 10 awards including the Outstanding Performance Award for institutions.
While 2020 may have thrown a wrench in our regular scheduling, we have shown that we have the expertise to pivot at any moment, drawing out the best from our students, and providing the best education given the constraints. This is what CORE is about.
It was more of the same in 2021 with regards to COVID, and the club continued on their winning streak. With the Robocup Singapore Open Soccer Technical Challenges yet to happen, our teams have already achieved The Best Logbook, Presentation, and Engineering Awards in the Robocup Junior Soccer Open category, the Best Engineering Award in the Rescue Line U19 Category, and 1st and 3rd in the CoSpace Rescue U19 Category. Our Soccer Open teams were also given Recognitions for Offensive Strategy, with both teams placed in the Distinction Tier. 2 of our Rescue Line U19 teams were placed in the Distinction tier, with one in the Merit Tier. Of our 5 CoSpace Rescue U19 teams, 3 were placed in the Distinction Tier, and 2 in the Merit Tier. One team was also given a Recognition for the Most Innovative Strategy.
The performance of Team Raffles (Soccer Open), Team Completed (Rescue Line) and Cospoon (Rescue Simulation a.k.a CoSpace Rescue), gave them the opportunity to represent Singapore at Robocup Worldwide 2021, where they contributed to what was perhaps Singapore’s most trophy-laden outing at Robocup Junior, with Team Raffles obtaining the SuperTeam 1st and Technical Challenges 1st, and Cospoon, the Best Team Description Paper Award.
Raffles Girls’ School
Robotics Club
Our first engagement with RGS came in 2016 when they were looking around for a mentor to coach their Robocup Junior Soccer team.
Under less than ideal circumstances, made possible by the continued support of the Teacher-in-Charge at the time, and the willingness of Club Automatica to accommodate a competitor at the trainings, they placed 2nd at the National qualifiers (after an intense final with Club Automatica).
In 2019, we found a more stable arrangement where we could spend a few hours with our kids here to work on the IDE Maker Competition, as well as the National Robotics Competition. The kids did admirably, coming in 3rd with a Power Assisted Trolley for the IDE Maker Competition, while also clinching the Best Presentation Award (3rd) and the Best Programming Award (3rd) that same year.
Being the only school we work with to have a DNT Workshop, we’ve had fun getting the kids to work with tools in building larger prototypes. One of these projects involved using Tensorflow to sort trash into the appropriate bins as an idea for a smarter waste management solution.
COVID struck as we were in the midst of preparing for Robocup Singapore Open 2020. With the competition cancelled, we pivoted to teaching Computer Vision. When Robocup Asia Pacific and eventually Singapore Open went virtual with CoSpace, we made the leap. The kids did great, winning 9 awards at RCAP, as well as the Outstanding Institution Award. At SG Open, they took home 3 Top 3 awards across 2 categories.
Carrying the momentum into the semi-virtual events of 2021, they have already clinched the Best Logbook, Presentation, and Engineering Awards (Soccer Lightweight), and Technical Challenge 3rd (Rescue Line) at Robocup Singapore Open, with 3 teams in the Distinction and 2 in the Merit tier.
Team Socks (RCJ Soccer Lightweight) was also selected to represent Singapore at Robocup Worldwide 2021, attaining the Superteam 1st award. This marked the first time RGS was selected to represent Singapore in the category.
Bukit Panjang Government High School
Science Team (Robotics)
In 2021, we were recommended by some friends to the school. Having been out of the competitive robotics scene for several years, they were looking for a mentor capable of providing technical grounding to the work that the kids were already doing.
In addition, we were also tasked with guiding a couple of students through the CoSpace Autonomous Driving category at Robocup Singapore Open. While we have not spent the most time together, the students are doing well, with all 3 teams taking part making it to the finals! The top team was placed in the Distinction tier (top 6 overall), with the second team placed in the Merit tier (top 10 overall).
Edgefield Secondary School (via Tinkercademy)
Future Ready Program (Drone Technology)
In 2019, Tinkercademy was approached to develop a course for the school, which was looking to equip their students with skills that may contribute to future career opportunities.
As TinkerCORE at the time, we crafted a series of lessons aimed not only at giving a students an understanding of the technology, but also the applications and limitations of the drone as a platform.
This course was conducted with the DJI/Ryze Tello, with programming done with Droneblocks.
We also developed the curriculum outline for the Smart Cities course, based on the BBC micro:bit platform.
Companies
What we’ve done
in3labs
Curriculum and competition Development
We started work with in3labs in 2016, developing an Arduino Kit (hardware system and library) and Curriculum, programmed in C++. Primarily intended for use in schools, we piloted it during the Asia Pacific Youth Robotics Competition 2017 through the inaugural Arduino Robotics Challenge.
Besides designing the challenge, we also developed a modular playfield system built from plywood, dowels, binder clips and acrylic, allowing for a scalable system which could be built into the third dimension.
In 2017, we also worked on their Senior Level Curriculum for EV3, restructuring their current offerings and developing course materials for the new modules.
Competitive Robotics (FLL)
In 2020, we sent a joint team for the FIRST LEGO League (2020). We had realistic expectations coming into this competition, with the team only assembled days before the registration deadline. We were pleasantly surprised when they emerged as the winners of the Mechanical Design Award!
Competitive Robotics (NRC)
This year, we are teaming up with IN3LABS once again, coaching 2 of their students to attempt the National Robotics Competition under the Elementary/Primary category.
Roboto Coding Academy
Background
Towards the end of 2020, we went on a hunt for new partners as we looked to pass what we have learnt over the last 15 years to the industry to move it forward. Roboto turned out to be a great fit as they were just starting out in the robotics space. More importantly, we agreed on the fundamental principles and responsibilities we had as educators before anything else.
Trainer Training
Beginning in January 2021, we got to work, starting on trainer training on the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Platform. We continue to work with Roboto as they expand into schools, taking up training for competitions such as Robocup (Rescue line, CoSpace), the FIRST LEGO League and the National Robotics Competition. Together, we hope to begin tackling some of the issues in robotics training today, and develop a generation of students who are truly able to grasp the complexities of robot design.
Citibank
(via Tinkercademy)
Curriculum Development
The first run for our DJI/Ryze Tello Program was set-up when Citibank approached Tinkercademy to run a Drone Workshop for their Wealth Management Forum.
With a wide age range, we developed a curriculum that brings the user through the basics of drone technology, such as the theory of flight, to safe usage, to applications, and even some basic programming with Droneblocks.
This would end up being the basis for a successful program that has since been run at companies and schools alike.
Monetary Authority Singapore
(via Tinkercademy)
Curriculum Development
In 2019, The MAS Academy approached Tinkercademy to tweak the drone offerings we created to focus more on software aspects, achieved through UAVs as a platform. The idea was to allow for staff to develop transferable skills such as computational thinking.
To do so, we developed problems with large solution spaces, focusing on the achievement of a particular goal, and the ability of the team to explain and sell it. With foundational algorithmic concepts we taught, participants were able to come up with widely varied solutions within a short time frame.
The stellar reviews, as well as requested reruns underlines our ability to deliver what many deem impossible.