World Robot Olympiad Comes to the USA... and Long Beach

I won’t say that we’re behind. We just haven’t participated.

Here in the U.S., we’ve been lucky to have a myriad of Robotics competitions from which to choose (FIRST LEGO League, VEX robotics tournaments). Still, think about all the additional fun we could have been having!

The World Robot Olympiad has been running since 2004. It’s not new, we in the U.S. just haven’t known about it.

Dr. CJ Chung at Lawrence Technological University (LTU) in Southfield, Michigan wants to change this. In 2014, for the first time, the U.S. participated in the World Robot Olympiad. Thank you, Dr. Chung!

What’s interesting to me, personally, is that the competition is finding a way to the public through Makerspaces and Makerfaires. Did you know I am a Maker? I make things, so I am a Maker. You are one too!

The WRO is well timed to be a summer project for all of our video game playing sons and daughters. Teams of two or three will meet regularly. This team size keeps it manageable and friend-based.

If your child is participating in the FIRST LEGO League (FLL), it’s a good warm up. The FLL competition gets into full swing at the end of August. The WRO ends in mid-September, unless you’re going to the International tournament in Qatar.

Participants will be required to assemble their robots onsite in a quarantined area. Programs may be written in advance. There is only a robot competition (If you have participated in FLL... no project or Core Values). The programs are algorithm based. If you speak LEGO Mindstorms, think My Blocks. Teams are smaller. The play board is different.

If you’d like to know more about the 2015 tournament, we are holding an information session on Wednesday, June 24th at 7:00 PM at Made in Long Beach - 236 Pine Ave. Park at the 3rd Street parking lot.

If you’d like your child to know more about the tournament, we will be working through the elementary competition requirements and discussing possible solutions at Cub Scout Day Camp on the week of July 6-10. You do not have to already be a scout to participate in Cub Scout Day Camp. Register here.

If you are in Middle or High School and would like to volunteer for Cub Scout Day Camp, we are still seeking volunteers! We will hopefully also have the middle and high school tournament setups at the camp.

To volunteer, contact Trish at info at Makersville.net.

More info, visit http://www.wroboto.us

The World Robot Olympiad Long Beach Qualifier is pleased to have the support of a strong committee including representatives of CSULB, the BSA, Miller Communications, Great Educational Experiences and Makersville.