Stolen Robot Returned to High School Team: Media Report

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Image: RoboLoCo

A team of high school students from Loudoun County is competing today in a world robotics championship in St. Louis. And on the eve of the contest, they received some good news: their stolen robot has been returned.

RoboLoco, a group of 10 students from the Academy of Science, the Monroe Technology Center and Loudoun County High School, flew off Tuesday to the FIRST World Championship in St. Louis, according to the group’s Twitter account. But before they left, they took delivery of the hand-built robot that was stolen several weeks ago after a regional competition in Knoxville, Tenn., according to WUSA-TV Channel 9.

With a second-place finish in Knoxville, RobooCo advanced to the world championship in St. Louis. Before they could celebrate, they discoverd that thieves had stolen the SUV that contained their robot from the parking lot of the hotel where they were staying.

Also stolen were the trophies won in the regional competition, a school computer, and tools and equipment.

To stay on track for the world championship, RoboLoCo members had to work around the clock to rig up a practice robot to enter in the competition. And the community pitched in to help, as other robotics teams in Loudoun and Fairfax counties sent them new supplies.

Orbital ATK, the local aerospace company, paid the $5,000 entry fee for the St. Louis world championship, while the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce contributed $1,000. The Loudoun Education Foundation also raised funds for RoboLoCo.

It was not known whether the stolen robot was returned in time to be entered in the St. Louis world championship.