Local schools compete in

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<BR style="CLEAR: both"> document.write(''); document.write(Cutline[0]); Cameron Gudobba of the Robo Rovers team from Roberts Elementary School gets ready to launch the team's robot during a recent demonstration at the school. The team earned a third place overall championship award in the First LEGO League championship Dec. 5.

By DEBRA KASZUBSKIEight teams representing six Utica Community Schools buildings demonstrated their robot maneuvering, teamwork, presentation and research techniques Dec. 5 at Lakeland High School in White Lake during the First LEGO League state championship tournament.

The Robo Rovers from Roberts Elementary School in Shelby Township took home a third place overall championship award. The championship award is given to a team who performs well in technical, teamwork and presentation. Other UCS schools, including teams from Switzer, Burr and Crissman elementary schools, earned accolades in individual categories. There were 48 teams from schools located throughout southeast Michigan at the competition.

"I really like LEGOs and programming, so I was really excited to do so well," said Stephen Odgen, 11, of Shelby Township, who was on the Robo Rovers team.

Each team, made up of 9- to 14-year-old students, built and programmed a sensor-equipped autonomous LEGO robot which made its way through a field of obstacles while either avoiding or surviving impact. Matches were 2 1/2 minutes long, with all teams receiving the same supplies and mat for their robot to maneuver.

During a recent demonstration to the school, the Robo Rovers' robot, dubbed Jacob Bilbo, made its way past obstacles and across the mat. Roberts' other team, Rockin' Roberts Robots, who also made it to the state tournament but did not take home any awards, also displayed its hard work.

"For a rookie team to do so well at states is a great accomplishment," said Robo Rovers coach John Odgen of Shelby Township. "They worked very hard and I'm really proud."

The Robo Rovers where also finalists in the Innovative Robot Design, Programming and Quality Robot Design categories.

Preparation started Sept. 3 when teams received their supplies and a theme for a team project - the other major component of the competition. The theme, called Smart Moves, focused on transportation and required teams to think about how people, animals and information move throughout their communities. Then, teams picked one main mode of transportation to research and problem-solve.

The Robo Rovers studied submarines and the risk of transferring people when not in port. They came up with solution to the problem called the SMaRT Bridge, a makeshift bridge that provides a stable support for entry into the sub.

Switzer's team, E.B.H.H. (Every Bot Helps Humanity), earned second place in Creative Presentation for the team's demonstration of its Ultrasonic Bike Safety System, a device conceived by the team that's designed to prevent car and bike collisions.

Switzer coach Eileen Shaughnessy of Shelby Township said judges liked the team's imaginative presentation and solution, which included a warning system to alert drivers when a bicyclist is within 15 feet of the car.

"There are so many bikes in Shelby Township, especially near 25 Mile and Schoenherr, where we are. There are so many near-misses," Shaughnessy said. "I'm proud that (the team) came up with a potential solution to a big problem."

The Chocolate Chunks of Doom, one of three teams from Crissman Elementary in Shelby Township, earned second place in Research Quality. The team studied airplane icing and microwave technology, and interviewed experts from Selfridge Air National Guard Base and Pentastar Aviation.

Their solution was to use magnetron inside the fuselage to direct microwaves at the wing's edge to melt the ice. They also presented techniques to shield passengers. Their ideas also earned the team a finalist position in the Innovation Solutions category.

"We found a new, creative solution that does not exist," said Chocolate Chunks of Doom coach Pascal Roy.

The Burr Robodogs from Burr Elementary School in Sterling Heights earned second place in Teamwork, which honors extraordinary enthusiasm and spirit. Teams honored in this category also demonstrate the utmost respect to their teammates and encouragement to other teams.

Beck Elementary School's team, Robo Phoenix, was named a finalist in Programming.

"I'm very proud of them. They showed dedication, and I'm very impressed with coaches and the team," said Beck Principal Sally Klatt.

Jet Force, another team from Crissman, and Ebeling Elementary School's Ebeling Burning Brain Bot Movers also made it to the state competition, but did not earn awards.