Due to Covid-19, Solve for Tomorrow 2021 Final was organized online. The panel of judges selected Robot Kat’s “Researching applications of non-contact attractive forces and designing, creating wall-climbing robots for probe and inspection of drain pipes” project and Eco Warriors’ “Creating machines to recycle surgical masks into plastic products” project for the two first prizes in Board A and Board B respectively. 

Solve for Tomorrow 2021 Finals was organized through an online format on January 9th. Image: Samsung

The judges remarked that both teams showed great ingenuity in the ideas and mechanisms of the model products alongside their practical applications.

In particular, Robo Kat’s project introduces a multi-functional robot as a solution. The team conducted their research with the goal of creating robots able to assist humans in their day-to-day tasks. This product can experiment, observe, determine the problems and help solve them in the darkest, most hazardous corners around the world untouched by humans. The robot can operate on glass surfaces, walls, ceilings of skyscrapers and drain pipes for centrifugal systems or homes. The project will be completed in the future and will soon enter practical applications in the market. 

The organizing board awarded the final’s top 20. Image: Samsung

The Eco Warriors’ project developed a machine to recycle surgical masks. After usage, masks can continue their life cycle as new plastic pots for planting trees. In the future, the team plans to continue their development by diversifying the source of materials, adding in bottles, plastic jars, bags, etc., and the number of products to include plastic gutters, cups, etc. The Eco Warriors aims to “strike two birds with one stone”: reducing surgical mask waste’s impact on the environment; repurposing recycled plastic for other usages.

In addition, Solve for Tomorrow 2021 also gave other projects awards. Content advisors have high regards for the top 20 projects in the final, for example, Environment monitoring and landslide warning systems; Constructing a converter of surgical masks into plastic products; Assistive device for motorcyclists during an injury or a theft, etc. 

Covid-19 notwithstanding, the competition overall still received critical acclaim from the experts. Image: Samsung

Mr. Vũ Toàn Thắng, Head of Mechatronics Department - Hanoi University of Science and Technology evaluated the students as creative and adept in the application of new technology to controlling, programming and transmitting signals, and of AI, IoT, Big Data to solve issues. Besides, they were also keen on observing the surroundings, solving relevant questions, being responsible to the community, the environment and showing compassion for the society. These were shown through multiple projects about health, wildlife protection, disease prevention and control, helping farmers dry their products, etc.

With the goal of applying STEM into researching and devising plans to solve social, environmental, educational and health-related problems, Solve for Tomorrow 2021 aided in motivating the educators and the educated to actively participate in scientific research and applications of the STEM fields in creating products for daily life. 

Mr. Bùi Tiến Dũng, from the Department of Student Affairs - Ministry of Education and Training said that Solve for Tomorrow 2021 had given students a meaningful and useful playing field nationwide. This year’s projects all deserved and had the potential for future developments. The two first-place teams had added new topics to the discussion, and were up-to-date with today’s society’s needs for developments. Other projects promised to bring a variety of solutions that would positively contribute to the community as well.

From VnExpress

Solve for Tomorrow is an educational program intended to offer opportunities for students and unleash their potential while also expressing Samsung - the organizers’ vision through the corporate social responsibility activity: “Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People”. Started in 2010, at the moment, the competition has been present in 23 countries with 1.8 million participants.

In Vietnam, the competition was first held in 2019 and quickly became a playing field for Secondary and High Schoolers nationwide.

Translator: Duc Lam - English 2023