Raffles Robotics
How I built Raffles Institution Infocomm (2009 – 2023), Raffles Girls’ School Robotics Club (2016 – 2023), and Club Automatica at Raffles Institution (Junior College) (2014 – 2023) to become one of the most dominant forces in competitive robotics in Singapore and in the World.
My former students have continued to win and mentor their juniors to win National Championships every year including RCJ Soccer Open, Rescue Line U19 2024, RCJ Soccer Lightweight, Open, WRO RoboMission Senior 2025, RCJ Soccer IR 2026, etc..
April 2023
Raffles Institution Open House
Raffles Institution Open House
April 2022
RoboCup Singapore Open
RoboCup Singapore Open
April 2014
RoboCup Singapore Open
My last competition with Raffles Robotics. That first photo means a lot. 2 years prior, no one knew (within the school and out of it) Club Automatica. Within 2 years and with not much more resources (still just working on the floor outside our storeroom on the busiest corridor in school), we brought the 3 Raffles Clubs together and set something up to last. The clubs are still winning Championships over a decade later.
RoboCup Singapore Open
My last competition with Raffles Robotics. That first photo means a lot. 2 years prior, no one knew (within the school and out of it) Club Automatica. Within 2 years and with not much more resources (still just working on the floor outside our storeroom on the busiest corridor in school), we brought the 3 Raffles Clubs together and set something up to last. The clubs are still winning Championships over a decade later.
January 2014
Raffles Institution (JC) Open House
Once upon a time, Automatica was split in 3 – Quanta, Robotica and Silica. By the time we took over, there was no trace (haha) of Silica (haha because Silica was the electronics division) and Quanta, that did Physics, was on its last legs. Nonetheless, we tried to prop it up, like this Tesla Coil, which was just a prop that I had no idea how to operate.
Raffles Institution (JC) Open House
Once upon a time, Automatica was split in 3 – Quanta, Robotica and Silica. By the time we took over, there was no trace (haha) of Silica (haha because Silica was the electronics division) and Quanta, that did Physics, was on its last legs. Nonetheless, we tried to prop it up, like this Tesla Coil, which was just a prop that I had no idea how to operate.
December 2013
School Events
In one year, Automatica went from not having a presence to everyone wanting us to build things for them. The first picture was supposed to be a Polaroid camera? We also built a programmable clock for Raffles Players (Drama Club) for their annual production which I cannot seem to find a picture of so here’s Cat instead.
School Events
In one year, Automatica went from not having a presence to everyone wanting us to build things for them. The first picture was supposed to be a Polaroid camera? We also built a programmable clock for Raffles Players (Drama Club) for their annual production which I cannot seem to find a picture of so here’s Cat instead.
September 2013
National Junior Robotics Competition
One thing that never crossed my mind was that we could print/purchase playfields. So for every competition, we built them by hand out of scrap material and taped the lines on before going on to run full scores at NJRC. Kids these days have to lint roll the mats and their robots still fail. This year, I decided to loan Griffles but he stank so I borrowed with assumed permission a mobile signpost and put him in the middle of the corridor at night, scaring everyone.
National Junior Robotics Competition
One thing that never crossed my mind was that we could print/purchase playfields. So for every competition, we built them by hand out of scrap material and taped the lines on before going on to run full scores at NJRC. Kids these days have to lint roll the mats and their robots still fail. This year, I decided to loan Griffles but he stank so I borrowed with assumed permission a mobile signpost and put him in the middle of the corridor at night, scaring everyone.
April 2013
Thrift Shop
For reasons unknown, I was addicted to Thrift Shop. To make sure everyone knew, I set up what I called an art installation (so that the school did not bother me) outside the Automatica room. It comprised of junk we did not bother to dispose, and some signage.
Thrift Shop
For reasons unknown, I was addicted to Thrift Shop. To make sure everyone knew, I set up what I called an art installation (so that the school did not bother me) outside the Automatica room. It comprised of junk we did not bother to dispose, and some signage.
April 2013
RoboCup Singapore Open
With Vishnu laying the groundwork in 2012 by forcing all his friends from the Computer Science Club the join Club Automatica, we had all the ingredients for more success. We achieved that, winning Dance for the first time in addition to Soccer as usual, clinching the Best Institution Award. By this time, we were masters of the jigsaw. Check out the PVC prototype plates drawn and cut by hand.
RoboCup Singapore Open
With Vishnu laying the groundwork in 2012 by forcing all his friends from the Computer Science Club the join Club Automatica, we had all the ingredients for more success. We achieved that, winning Dance for the first time in addition to Soccer as usual, clinching the Best Institution Award. By this time, we were masters of the jigsaw. Check out the PVC prototype plates drawn and cut by hand.
2009 – 2012
RIICC (Robotics) haul in my student era
RIICC (Robotics) haul in my student era
July 2012
3D Printer Acquired
Much to the envy of many, we managed to secure some 3D printers for the robotics lab as part of the Gap Semester program. It would be the first and last time we were allowed to get a printer in my 15 years at Raffles. We designed omniwheels but never used them because they were worse than COTS.
3D Printer Acquired
Much to the envy of many, we managed to secure some 3D printers for the robotics lab as part of the Gap Semester program. It would be the first and last time we were allowed to get a printer in my 15 years at Raffles. We designed omniwheels but never used them because they were worse than COTS.
December 2011
FIRST Tech Challenge
RIICC competes at the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) for the first time. The guy on the right looks like Jeshua. I didn’t know Jeshua did robotics. And is that Ranald and Desmond?
FIRST Tech Challenge
RIICC competes at the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) for the first time. The guy on the right looks like Jeshua. I didn’t know Jeshua did robotics. And is that Ranald and Desmond?
July 2011
RoboCup Istanbul, Turkey
Work on RoboCup Singapore Open 2011 started before the 3rd/4th Superteam match while representing Singapore at RoboCup Singapore 2010. This was because I did not know that there was a 3rd/4th place match and was sad that we didn’t make the finals. That was remedied in Turkey where we achieved Individual and Superteam 2nd, the best ever result by Singapore to date (as of 2026). Pictured is us having pizza with Hwa Chong. We shared a great rivalry over the years, pushing each other to achieve what we could not alone.
RoboCup Istanbul, Turkey
Work on RoboCup Singapore Open 2011 started before the 3rd/4th Superteam match while representing Singapore at RoboCup Singapore 2010. This was because I did not know that there was a 3rd/4th place match and was sad that we didn’t make the finals. That was remedied in Turkey where we achieved Individual and Superteam 2nd, the best ever result by Singapore to date (as of 2026). Pictured is us having pizza with Hwa Chong. We shared a great rivalry over the years, pushing each other to achieve what we could not alone.
January 2011
FIRST LEGO League Body Forward
RIICC competes at the FIRST LEGO League (FLL), possibly for the first time. The event was organised by Heartware at the Singapore Science Centre. We sent 3 teams and came home with 3 awards.
FIRST LEGO League Body Forward
RIICC competes at the FIRST LEGO League (FLL), possibly for the first time. The event was organised by Heartware at the Singapore Science Centre. We sent 3 teams and came home with 3 awards.
September 2010
National Junior Robotics Competition (NJRC)
This was an epic NJRC. I did not know that the surprise missions were not that surprising so I brought a box of parts and rebuilt new robots from scratch for each round (there used to be multiple), getting full scores for all of them. Unfortunately, we did not win as I messed up the first round (prepared mission). It was more surprising when I was invited to represent Singapore for WRO as I didn’t know WRO existed. I heard years later that the surprise mission was leaked to the winning school. It is funny to think they were almost beaten by some clueless kid. I also wrote the code for the Tertiary team and got an honorary medal.
National Junior Robotics Competition (NJRC)
This was an epic NJRC. I did not know that the surprise missions were not that surprising so I brought a box of parts and rebuilt new robots from scratch for each round (there used to be multiple), getting full scores for all of them. Unfortunately, we did not win as I messed up the first round (prepared mission). It was more surprising when I was invited to represent Singapore for WRO as I didn’t know WRO existed. I heard years later that the surprise mission was leaked to the winning school. It is funny to think they were almost beaten by some clueless kid. I also wrote the code for the Tertiary team and got an honorary medal.
September 2010
National Software Competition (LEGO Challenge)
Since we were part of the Infocomm Club, we were expected to contribute to the competitions that make up the National Infocomm Competition. We obliged and placed 2nd to ensure that RIICC were the overall Champions.
National Software Competition (LEGO Challenge)
Since we were part of the Infocomm Club, we were expected to contribute to the competitions that make up the National Infocomm Competition. We obliged and placed 2nd to ensure that RIICC were the overall Champions.
May 2010
Raffles Institution Open House
Our presence at any showcase always drew large crowds. It was a tradition for us to prepare well for these events. The first picture depicts a robot battle event. Robots are cobbled together with Tamiya kits and hand-soldered remote controls – a rite of passage for new RIICC robotics members. The second shows our first ever RoboCup Junior Soccer robot modified from a COTS kit. It placed 2nd at the inaugural RoboCup Singapore Open 2009.
Raffles Institution Open House
Our presence at any showcase always drew large crowds. It was a tradition for us to prepare well for these events. The first picture depicts a robot battle event. Robots are cobbled together with Tamiya kits and hand-soldered remote controls – a rite of passage for new RIICC robotics members. The second shows our first ever RoboCup Junior Soccer robot modified from a COTS kit. It placed 2nd at the inaugural RoboCup Singapore Open 2009.
May 2010
Hosted Inter Primary Infocomm Competition (IPIC)
The Raffles Institution Infocomm Club used to host an annual competition. We would invite primary schools in, teach them whatever little we knew about our fields, and set challenges for them to complete. In 2010, our mission included a crossbow wielding robot which would shoot at a monster if the buttons were triggered in the right order. We did this as part of our second CCA with 2-3 members per batch while prepaing for our own competitions.
Hosted Inter Primary Infocomm Competition (IPIC)
The Raffles Institution Infocomm Club used to host an annual competition. We would invite primary schools in, teach them whatever little we knew about our fields, and set challenges for them to complete. In 2010, our mission included a crossbow wielding robot which would shoot at a monster if the buttons were triggered in the right order. We did this as part of our second CCA with 2-3 members per batch while prepaing for our own competitions.
