06 March 2026
On 17 February, students from Years 9 to 11 had the opportunity to explore real-world applications of robotics by attending an AI seminar presented by Mr Tom Zhang. A graduate of SPSC in 2001 and the School’s first boarding student from China, Tom later completed a Master’s degree in Commerce and Accounting at the University of Adelaide. He is now the CEO of Booster Robotics.
The presentation began with Tom introducing the company’s humanoid robots. Humanoid technology is advancing rapidly, and Booster Robotics is currently developing its capabilities in large language models, reinforcement learning and locomotion.
Tom also explained that the company manufactures humanoid robots for the RoboCup Soccer Sub-League, showcasing the Booster K1 model. This robot was specifically designed for competition based on the belief that if a robot can successfully participate in a soccer game, following defined tasks while responding to unpredictable actions from opponents, it will be capable of performing everyday tasks in complex, real-world environments.
Towards the end of the presentation, Mr Zhang emphasised that a robot’s actions are still ultimately determined and guided by humans.
Charles Nguyen
Year 11 Student
