JAMAICA College has pushed back the launch date for its robotics programme, which will see the school entering the US FIRST Robotics Competition, to the end of this month.

The project when launched will mark the historic first entry of a Caribbean high school in the robotics field.

“Organisers have decided to reschedule the date and have the programme launched during the school period,” Georgia Rudolph, faculty advisor for the school’s Science Club, told Career & Education this past week.

She explained that the school was still on Christmas break during the first launch date — January 4 — for the project.

The Jamaica College Old Boys’ Association of New York, in partnership with the school, is also planning to create a fully outfitted robotics lab at the all-boys school which will see practical applications of robotics incorporated into the institution’s science education.

But with the competition set to begin in March, organisers say they are not yet ready but are confident that they will make the date.

“Organisers are facing some hurdles at this time and one of them is sourcing material needed to assemble their robot that will be used to enter the competition, but we are confident,” Rudolph said.

She added that with the assistance from the school’s old boys’ association and several other organisations within the school community, the programme was making progress.

They hope to pave the way for the popularisation of artificial intelligence technology in Jamaica and the region.

To participate in the robotics programme, Rudolph said it would cost $US1,000 to source material to assemble the robot. However, she did not disclose how much it would cost to send the 10-member team to the United States to participate in the event.

Started in 1992 with 28 teams, the competition has since grown to reach 150,000 youths and is intended to inspire their interest and participation in science and technology.