Goodrich – Lego plastic blocks aren’t just for playtime, they have gone high-tech.
The middle school Lego Robotics team placed first in team and sixth overall among 48 teams at this year’s FIRST Lego League statewide tournament.
The tournament is part of a nationwide robotics education program co-sponsored by Lego and FIRST, an organization that encourages kids to learn about technology.
Hundreds of middle-school students, volunteer coaches and family members packed Carman-Ainsworth Middle School, in Mundy Township on Dec. 15 armed with robots built using kits created by Legos.
In Lego League, middle-school students build and program robots, then compete against other teams to test how well the robots function. This year’s theme was ‘energy conservation.?
The group of 11 Goodrich middle students designed, engineered and built their robot out of Legos. They named their robot ‘Dr. Onan Noswad,? who they affectionately named after their Robotics coach and science teacher, Brad Dawson. The students said Noswad is Dawson spelled backward.
Dawson said one of the robot’s missions required it to leave base, move to a house and drop off a solar panel on top of a house and then return it to base. ‘The judges want to make sure the robot operates consistently. They also ask the students lots of questions to make sure they understand how the robot operates,? said Dawson.
Students participated in four activities; presentation, the robot, technical interview and problem solving.
The problem solving competition required students to solve energy puzzles. ‘The students chose Reid Elementary School as their municipal building to complete an energy audit. They were required to recommended ways to reduce the energy consumption of the building. They added solar panels outside to generate electricity and added insulation to prevent heat loss,? said Dawson.
Morgan Foster, a seventh grade student who helped operate the robot, reflected on the general science knowledge gained in the event.
‘This year’s competition taught me how to use science to conserve energy. The judges asked us lots of questions to make sure the robot was ours.?
Working together was a key element.
‘I think one of the most important things my students learn through this competition is teamwork. At this age kids quite often want to do everything to make sure it is done right. Giving each student a specific responsibility to create a successful team teaches them the benefits of teamwork,? said Dawson.
Each student received a medal, along with a team trophy made out of Legos.