WorldSkills Jamaica Opens St. Ann Robotics And Drone Training Camp Ahead Of Shanghai

WorldSkills Jamaica has joined with Canada-based Studica Robotics to stage a five-day invitational training camp for competitors and technical experts preparing for the 48th WorldSkills Competition, set for Shanghai, China, in September.

The programme got under way on Monday, June 8, at Cardiff Hotel & Spa in Runaway Bay, St. Ann. Training is centred on autonomous mobile robotics and unmanned aerial systems, known as UAS.

The camp has drawn an international group of participants, including three Jamaicans, two Brazilians, one Barbadian, one Chinese participant and two Singaporeans.

Dwayne Bent, WorldSkills Jamaica’s technical delegate, told JIS News that the first day opened with an orientation led by the skill competition manager. The modules for the competition were examined in a lecture format, and participants were introduced to the components in their competition kits.

“Then they were able to unbox their kit and identify parts and familiarise themselves with the environment. They had an opportunity to connect with each other, integrate, share ideas and strategise,” he said. Bent said the competitors were also expected to start putting their robots together on day one.

According to Bent, Tuesday’s schedule was to move into navigation exercises, with teams testing prototypes and programmes. “By Tuesday afternoon, robots will start to move and drones will start to fly. By Wednesday, they are no longer friends. They are now competing with each other against those standards,” he said.

Bent said the final two days would place strong emphasis on testing and assessment. Before that stage, experts are to receive guidance on reading and applying the assessment instruments used in competition.

He said WorldSkills Jamaica also wants to strengthen key areas of judging and performance. “When we look back on our performance over the years, there are some areas that have fallen short, because we pay attention to technical operations of the equipment – things like your workmanship, your cleanliness, your organisation, your interaction, your communication skills with compatriots, as well as the skills competition manager. All of these add up to lots of marks,” Bent said.

Studica Robotics General Manager Derek Murphy said the two skill areas being covered at the camp rank among the seven leading emerging skills globally, with UAS holding the number-one spot.

“There are more requests for talent in this field from everywhere in the world,” Murphy said. He added that the partnership is ultimately aimed at supporting economic expansion in Jamaica by helping to address industrial labour needs, empower young people and raise standards in technical and vocational education and training.

Murphy urged the competitors to make full use of the international training setting. “If you want to beat the best, you have to see how the best train,” he said, pointing to China’s performance at WorldSkills Lyon 2024, where its delegation finished first overall with 36 gold, nine silver and four bronze medals.