HOB robotics teams heading to world championships
In what is becoming an annual rite of spring, two H.O. Brittingham Elementary robotics teams are heading to the world championships.
Both teams qualified for invitations to the 2023 VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas this May by competing at the VexIQ Delmarva Regional Championships at Indian River High School March 4.
The competition is played on a 6’x8’ rectangular field. In the Teamwork Challenge, two robots compete as an alliance in 60-second long matches, working collaboratively to score points.
In the Robot Skills Challenge, one robot takes the field to score as many points as possible, competing in driving and programming skills matches.
Points are scored by landing small discs into goal zones, removing the discs and touching contact zones at the end of the match.
The HOB team Curlz Gurlz comprising fifth grader and returning worlds championship participant Amelia Kennedy, and fourth graders Katie Nauman, Addi Mohacey and Emma Emerson, won the teamwork award with a top score of 65.
“The game is a lot harder this year,” Amelia said. “Now, you have to shoot the disc under the bar, not over.”
Students said they feel they won the award because they cheered for their competitors and communicated with other teams to learn about their robots. All students needed to be proficient in both programming and driving, as well as repairing robots on the playing field.
The middle school team heading to worlds comprises former HOB students Avery Harp, Mason Fountain and Eva Taylor. Students said they are constantly working to upgrade their robot.
Avery said the team researched problem-solving ideas on YouTube to learn ways to program their robot to pick up pucks and move faster.
Designing the robot with the perfect amount of power and speed is important, Mason said. By propelling the pucks into different areas of the playing field, the team can earn more points, he added.
Teams are overseen by head coach Cathy Ward, and assistant coaches Nina Wilkinson and Wendy Coverdale.
In total, five teams competed at the regional level, Coverdale said, and the teams that are not going to the world championship are helping the qualifying teams practice after school.
The robotics club is an extracurricular after-school club that doesn’t have a district-allocated budget, so students are raising funds through business or individual sponsors to defray registration and travel costs.
Tax-deductible donations can be made payable to CHSD and mailed or dropped off at 402 Mulberry St., Milton DE 19958. Write “HOB Robotics” in the memo line. Donations must be received by Friday, April 14.
For more information contact Ward at 302-684-8522 or cathy.ward@cape.k12.de.us.
