The association Savai skolai carries out an RDA-funded project to purchase equipment for the Preiļi Robotics Club
The Preiļi Robotics Club began its activities in the spring of 2015. It was soon found that the participants had a great interest in robotics, but to pursue it suitable equipment was needed. The open project application call of the Rural Support Service (RSS) was the club’s great hope of obtaining funding for the purchase of hardware and equipment. In May 2016, the association “Savai skolai” submitted to the Rural Support Service (RSS) the project “Purchase of equipment for the Preiļi District Robotics Club – to increase the competitiveness of participants.” After the project was evaluated, in October 2016 it was approved for a total amount of EUR 14,888.58, including EUR 13,399.72 of public funding and EUR 1,488.86 of project co-financing, which was granted by the Preiļi District Council by a decision of the council meeting. Implementation began immediately after the funding was received.
The project was carried out by 28 April 2017. During it, a room for learning electronics and robotics was fitted out at the Jānis Eglītis Preiļi State Gymnasium, Kooperatīvā iela 6, on the 1st floor in the premises of the IT centre. The following were purchased: tables, wall shelves, a box rack, ergonomic chairs, a set of drawers with a shelving cabinet, LED lamps, a 3D printer for learning electronics and building robots, various power tools, modern soldering equipment, a fume extraction/filtering unit, drilling machines, a video camera, laptops, testers, battery chargers, Lego sets and other equipment.
While the project was being carried out, the members of the Preiļi Robotics Club actively used the purchased equipment, which helped them not only to learn the basics of electronics but also to prepare better for competitions, where good results were achieved. This year the robotics club team took part in several competitions – Robotex 2016 in Tallinn on 2–4 December 2016, the TSI “Winter Cup” competition on 17 December 2016, the Preiļi Robotics Championship on 28 January 2017, the Sigulda Robot Cup on 25 February 2017, Robotiada 2017 in Vilnius on 25 March 2017. In these competitions together, our participants stepped onto the podium of honour 27 times. At the Sigulda Robot Cup competition organised by VISC, our team won 1st place in the overall standings! More than 20 participants have joined the club.
On 28 January 2017, the first robotics competition in Latgale was organised – Preiļi Robotics Championship 2017. Although it was initially planned to organise the competition for participants from Latvia, participants from Lithuania also registered. As a result, it became an international competition! In total, more than 160 robots from 32 institutions/organisations/clubs took part in the competition.
Thank you to the association Preiļu rajona partnerība, the Preiļi Non-Governmental Organisations Centre, the Rural Support Service, the Preiļi District Council and the Jānis Eglītis Preiļi State Gymnasium, and to all suppliers of goods and services, for the cooperation and the opportunity to carry out this project.
Juris Erts, project manager
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Information about the project
Project No.: 19-03-AL21-A019.2201-000004
Project title: Purchase of equipment for the Preiļi District Robotics Club – to increase the competitiveness of participants.
A project of the open project application call of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), sub-measure 19.2 “Implementation of operations under the community-led local development strategy”, activity 19.2.2 “Place potential development initiatives” of the Latvian Rural Development Programme 2014–2020.
Applicable action of the community-led local development strategy: 2.1. Support for community activities for the development of non-formal education services, social care and protection, and health preservation and rehabilitation services.
Videos about the Preiļi Robotics Club on Latgale regional television:
A robotics club has been created in Preiļi (LRT, YouTube, 10.03.2016)
The biggest robotics championship in Latgale takes place in Preiļi (LRT, YouTube, 28.01.2017)
Publications on the JEPVĢ website about the activities of the Preiļi Robotics Club: