Rishita (11) won the judge’s award and people’s choice award for her Sani Bot 5000, which is designed to use renewable solar energy, at the Robo Hero School’s Competition, held as part of the Perth Science Festival last month.
The festival celebrated National Science Week 2016, which aimed to promote science, technology, enterprise and mathematics through community events.
The Year 5 student has also been chosen by Engineers Australia’s Professional Engineer of the Year Walter Green to participate in the Game Changer Awards.
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READ NOWRishita said she was surprised to have won the awards. “It was very exciting and I am glad these competitions are here for people who have these kinds of interests,” she said.
Rishita said her robot featured components made from recycled materials including a scooper arm, plastic bags, a temporary waste bin and a built-in camera.
“There is a serious hygiene issue in our community and also in other communities and often dog owners, do not clean up after their dogs, so my model is designed to solve that problem,” she said.
“I’d especially like to thank Mr John Francis, my former technology and enterprise teacher.”
She said she liked engineering, but wanted to become a physicist.
The winners of the Game Changer Awards will be announced on November 26.