Steel and wheels—or at least LEGO pieces—will face off on Oct. 29 at a robotics tournament at Olga Reed School in Los Alamos.
With Orcutt Academy High School as host, the competition will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and focus on the theme “Food Factor.” The games at the competition will require students to perform tasks that keep food safe. Each team researched such food safety components as food transport, sterilization, and storage, and was then asked to develop a way to improve upon the process.
Members of the Orcutt Academy robotics team mentored and coached the teams in basic programming and electrical skills for the robotic battle, which is part of the FIRST Lego League program. The robots are made using a LEGO product called NXT Mindstorm, and the game is played on a 96-inch-by-48-inch table designed specifically for the challenge.
“I am glad that the OAHS robotics team can increase the interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education [among] younger students,” robotics team faculty advisor Ty Fredericks said in a press release.
This article appears in Oct 27 – Nov 3, 2011.
