The Laker She-Bots Team 2383 won the First Place Trophy with their robot named OLL-e (pronounced as Ollie) for Robot Strategy and Innovation at the First Lego League (FLL) Robotics Michigan Southeast State competition took place in Monroe, Dec. 6.
OLL-e impressed the judges with how many missions this robot could do in 2 ? minutes. This award was given for recognition as a team that uses solid engineering practices with a well-developed strategy to design and build an innovative, high performing robot. The 4th-6th grade Laker She-Bots is an all-girl team coached by Maureen Roth and Andy Voto and team members include Bella Asai, Llli Alcauter, Allison Voto, Amanda Roth, Sydney Prins, Alyssa Prins and Marianna Alcauter.
Two Our Lady of the Lakes robotic teams received top awards. The second robotics team at OLL, called the Laker Brick Heads took the top award for the Innovation Project Solution, which recognizes a team’s solution that is exceptionally well-considered and creative, with good potential to solve the problem researched.
Their project involved the Swim with the Dolphins Mattress and the Floating Backstroke Neck Trainer. The Swim with the Dolphin Mattress is a device that helps train a person in how to do the butterfly dolphin kick. The Floating Backstroke Neck Trainer is a device that will keep a swimmer’s head in the right position to prevent their feet from sinking and swimming crooked. The fourth and fifth grade Laker Brick Heads are coached by Maureen Roth and Joe Anthony. Team members include Frank Roth, Anthony Dupuis, Frankie Martinez, Katelyn Ward, Joe Anthony, and Ali Anthony.
Fifty schools were in attendance for Michigan’s first state robotic competition. Teams had to attend a qualifying tournament and roughly 25 percent of the teams from each tournament qualified for the state finals.