The Cyber Junkyard Challenge has been taking place for the past 10 years at university level as an inter-tertiary competition. Says Martin Taverner, BU Manager Motion Control, at Siemens: “The purpose of the competition is to foster ongoing developmental relationships between industry and education in Southern Africa. In 2011, our aim is to establish the same relationships between Siemens, NMMU and high schools and colleges in the area, hence the introduction of the challenge at a school level. Our hope is that these relationships will help to encourage learners at this level to consider electrical engineering as an option to study after school.”

In addition to the Cyber Junkyard Competition, Siemens’ other efforts to support education include the Siemens Ambassador Programme (whereby Siemens undertakes to upgrade the laboratories of 10 universities per year, equipping them with the latest Siemens electrical equipment) as well as educational packages that allow institutions to purchase large volumes of Siemens equipment at significantly discounted rates. “These initiatives, like the Junior Cyber Junkyard Competition, demonstrate Siemens’ commitment to education and our quest to take that commitment an extra step further,” says Taverner. In the Junior Cyber Junkyard Challenge, learners will have to design, build and programme a fully functional water tank system. They will need to implement principles of flow rate and volume calculations, in addition to basic logic control and the principles of level control.

“By taking part in this project, learners will gain hands-on experience that will assist them when applying to universities. As future engineers, they will gain experience in elements such as electrical design, mechanical manufacture, level control within a tank process, industrial automation programming and closed loop control systems at a junior level,” Taverner explains. In addition, both educators and learners will have access to a simple system to introduce flow theory principles and problems, demonstrate level control and training on how to use a PLC.

“We have nine schools that entered the challenge, entering one team per school. Through our partnership with NMMU, each team was allocated R10 000 to design and manufacture their systems. However, in addition to this amount, learners will have to approach sponsors for certain elements of the project. This will teach them the basic business principles required to put a project together,” says Taverner.

The Eastern Cape project will serve as a pilot, and Taverner’s ultimate objective is that the Junior Cyber Junkyard Challenge will become a project that is implemented annually at schools nationwide.

The final judging will take place on 7 October 2011 and winning teams will receive a host of electrical equipment, as well as bursaries donated by NMMU.