They are battling with robots, but for 36 teams of students, it’s not just a game.
They’ll compete on Saturday in the largest LEGO robotics competition in the Jacksonville's history, the Northeast Florida FIRST LEGO League Regional Championship.
For months, the elementary and middle schoolers participating have learned programming, engineering and team work. Each team designs, constructs and programs their own robot for the competition.
“The robot goes and does different missions all around the board,” said John Stockton Elementary School fourth-grade student Chi-Chi Obiagwu.
Her team is called the Dynamic Dolphins. The tasks their robot has to complete are under a time limit.
Some of these kids haven't even hit their 10th birthdays yet, but they can program a robot. In 5 min @ActionNewsJax: https://t.co/H0Y9K5Kd4D pic.twitter.com/46mn6c7lPe
— Jenna Bourne (@jennabourneWTSP) January 27, 2017
“It also seems like you’re just having fun with robots when you’re actually learning a lot about them,” said Dynamic Dolphins teammate Catherine Brewer, who is also in fourth-grade.
The Crazy Cat Ladies are an all-girl team in Arlington.
Kaitlyn Jenkins, who is in seventh grade, said she is “nervous, but excited” about Saturday’s competition.
“I’ve always wanted to be an engineer and a computer programmer, so it’s a great foundation for me to be able to do that, maybe, in my future,” said Crazy Cat Lady teammate Gigi Gerstenberger.
The 36 teams will compete for a handful of spots to move on to bigger competitions.
“I feel pretty confident about the program and hope we can make it to state,” said Gigi.
Each team also had to come up with a separate research project, a solution to improve harmful interactions between humans and animals.
The Dynamic Dolphins are focusing on saving the bees from harmful pesticides. The Crazy Cat Ladies created a mobile app to connect the elderly with pets.
Cox Media Group
