Skip to content

Lo-Ellen, Lasalle robotics teams heading to world championships

The robotics teams from Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School and Lasalle Secondary School have qualified for the FIRST Robotics World Championships taking place in St. Louis, Missouri from April 23-26.
030414_Robotics660
Lo-Ellen Robotics Drive Team members include, from left, Colin Roos, Aidan Spoel, Carly Roos and Connor Gran. Supplied photo.
The robotics teams from Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School and Lasalle Secondary School have qualified for the FIRST Robotics World Championships taking place in St. Louis, Missouri from April 23-26.

High school students from across Canada and the United States team up with mentors from the world’s best technology companies to design, build and program robots that compete in high intensity robo-sports.

This year’s robo-sport is Aerial Assist, a game played with exercise balls. Two alliances of three robots each compete on a large field. The objective is to score as many goals as possible during a two minute and 30 second match. Additional points are earned if robots work together and assist each other in goal scoring.

The mission of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication and leadership.

Lo-Ellen Robotics and LANCERobotics earned the honour of competing internationally at the inaugural North Bay Regional FIRST Robotics Competition held at Nipissing University March 27-29.

After seeding 10th out of 36 robots in the qualification rounds, the Lo-Ellen Robotics team formed an alliance with its rookie team LANCERobotics from Lasalle Secondary School and the W.A.F.F.L.E.S. from Kingston, Ont.

The underdog alliance advanced to the finals, beating the competition in the quarter and semi-finals. The team gave last year’s world championship team a good run, but eventually fell in the finals after an intense defensive battle. The strong showing earned both Sudbury teams a spot at the World Championships.

Joey Lindon, captain of Lo-Ellen Robotics Team 4069, has demonstrated an outstanding level of dedication to the team while maintaining academic excellence and working with children to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

He was rewarded for his efforts by becoming a Dean’s List Finalist. As a finalist, he has been invited to a special luncheon at the World Championships where he will compete with finalists for one of ten spots on the Dean’s List.

Lo-Ellen Robotics Team 4069, based out of Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, has qualified for the World Championships in St. Louis, Missouri for the third consecutive year. The team is serving as a mentor for Lively District Secondary School Team 4968 and Lasalle Secondary School Team 5191.

LANCERobotics Team 5191, based out of Lasalle Secondary School, quickly earned the title of “Cinderella Team” at the North Bay Regionals as this small but mighty team of 13 students showed heart and determination in their rookie season.

Competing for their very first time at FIRST, LANCERobotics chose to focus on passing and low goals, making them an asset to the high performing Lo-Ellen Robotics Team. The students are looking forward to putting forth their very best effort at the World Championships.

Comments

Verified reader

If you would like to apply to become a verified commenter, please fill out this form.