The Brownwood Intermediate School 5th grade robotics team, “The Wheelers” competed in the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) 10th Annual Region 15 Invitational Robotics Competition on Monday, November 4th.
“Our 5th grade teams went to San Angelo and went up against some very stiff competition, and they placed second in their classes,” said Brownwood Intermediate School Principal, Charles Chesser. “We’re very proud of them.”
The competition involves students simulating the response of an Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team deployed to a natural disaster or other accident. “Actual USAR teams do use robots in their work,” said Alysbelle Shero, teacher and robotics team coach. “Contestants must problem-solve to move food and medicine units to safety zones and contain rubble.” According to Shero, the simulated “units” are red and black checkers, while small pieces of PVC pipe are also added to represent unstable pillars that need to be cleared.
“Students must construct a robot using LEGO pieces and a programmable brain,” explained Shero. “Using the contest rules, they must develop a strategy to score points from rescue tasks and program the robot brain to complete these tasks.”
The team has been practicing and working on their design since September, and will compete at the Area TCEA contest in Robert Lee on January 25th.
Pictured above: Brownwood Intermediate Principal Charles Chesser and Brownwood ISD Superintendent, Dr. Reece Blincoe, congratulate “The Wheelers” robotics team for their 2nd place win. (Left to Right) Charles Chesser, Alysbelle Shero, Hunter Day, Will McIver, Jimmy Kniss, and Dr. Reece Blincoe (Not pictured – BIS teacher & sponsor, Tiffany Baker)
Photo by Ray Tipton, BrownwoodNews.com.
