U City Robotics Teams Advance After Weekend Win

Editor's Note: University City resident Kim Deitzler wrote the following article for University City Patch about the weekend robotics competition at Brittany Woods. Tim Gillard provided the photos. U City Patch would love to share photos of events you attend. Please email photos and some background information to Myra Lopez at myra.lopez@patch.com

Two robotics teams from , the 3^rd grade Tech Monsters and the 5^th grade Technology Team, advanced to the Eastern Missouri Championship after winning awards at the St. Louis qualifier, held at on Sunday.  

The teams compete in FIRST Lego League (FLL), tackling real-world science and technology problems through Lego-based MINDSTORMS robotics. During a ten-week build cycle, teams build and program an autonomous robot to perform specific challenge-related tasks, and complete a research project based on the year’s theme. This year, the theme was “Food Factor” and focused on the role of technology in addressing food safety issues.

During the eight-hour qualifier, teams presented their research projects, participated in a judged team-building exercise to demonstrate their practice of the FLL Core Values, presented their robot and programs to a panel of technical judges, and participated in three rounds of robotic competition on a 4’ x 9’ themed playing field. 

This year there were over 16,000 registered teams, in the US and abroad. Over 150 teams competed in 7 local qualifiers over the past two weekends.

The 2011 FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) will take place 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley.  More than 320 high schools students are expected to participate. The FIRST LEGO League (FLL) will take place 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, in the gymnasium. Approximately 350 elementary and middle-school students will participate in the challenge. The winner will have a chance to compete in the FIRST World Championships here in St. Louis in April.

The Tech Monsters won the Strategy and Innovation award for their robot design, and the Technology Team received the Gracious Professionalism award, for being tough competitors while at the same time treating their teammates and opposing teams with respect and kindness. 

Teams from Brittany Woods and Flynn Park also participated in qualifying events, and a team from Flynn Park earned a wild card slot at the championships.

For more information about FIRST robotics visit www.usfirst.org.