Bells Ferry Robot Chews Up Competition

One of two robotics teams from Northeast Cobb's has advanced to next month’s superregional in the Georgia FIRST Lego League.

The global competition tests students’ ability to design and operate robots built from Lego blocks and to research and solve problems related to the annual theme. This year’s theme, Food Factor, aims to improve food safety by preventing contamination.

Bells Ferry fielded two teams of fourth- and fifth-graders in Saturday’s Cobb County regional competition at , the Marietta Daily Journal reported: Team Salmon and Team Ella, named after the salmonella bacterium.

General Electric sponsored one team, Bells Ferry teacher and robotic coach Theresa Bass told the MDJ, and student fees helped pay for the $420 robot kit, the $65 field mission kit on which the robot operates, the $225 registration fee and other costs for the second team.

Based on the design and performance of its robot and its food safety research project, Team Ella made the top eight to advance to the 40-team superregional at Creekland Middle School in Lawrenceville on Jan. 14, the MDJ said.

A total of 120 teams from elementary and middle schools and organizations such as Scout troops advanced from 15 regionals held this month to compete in one of the three superregionals next month. The others are in Warner Robins on Jan. 7 and at  in Marietta on Jan. 14.

Sixteen teams from each superregional will advance to compete for the state championship at  on Jan. 28.