UCS teams catch lightning at ThunderQuest competition

Area robotics teams stormed through Henry Ford on Nov. 17 to promote a love of Lego robotics.

UCS students represented half of the teams that earned honors at the regional First Lego Robotics event.

Teams receiving honors at the annual ThunderQuest event were:

UCS Teams advancing to state

• Crissman Elementary - The Gummy Guardians
• Burr Elementary - Robodogs
• Beck Elementary - Lords of the Robot
• Dresden Elementary - The Dresden RoboDragons

UCS Teams receiving special awards and trophies

• ThunderQuest Champions - Crissman Elementary, The Gummy Guardians
• ThunderChickens Team Spirit - Burr Elementary, Robodogs
• ThunderQuest Highest Score - Dresden Elementary, The Dresden RoboDragons
• Mechanical Design - Crissman Elementary, I Have No Idea
• Research - Burr Elementary, Robodogs
• Innovative Solution, Schuchard Elementary, Thunder Stallions
• Presentation - Dresden Elementary, RoboDragons
• Gracious Professionalism - Malow Junior High, Army of One
• Unique Swag - Switzer Elementary, The Brain Drainers

First Lego Robotics introduces younger students (ages 9-14) to real-world engineering challenges by building LEGO-based robots to complete tasks on a thematic playing surface. FLL teams annually compete under a theme, with this year’s challenge being “Nature's Fury.”

The ThunderQuest tournament featured several competitions, including a tech presentation where students create an autonomous robotic vehicle that will follow a course on a 4X8 table. Students also competed in teamwork challenges and a display project that described their solution for issues identified in the Nature's Fury theme.