The Laredo Independent School District hosted the Star Wars LEGO Robotics Competition for elementary students this past weekend at the LISD Performing Arts Complex. The students showcased their math and science skills and competed in the challenge where students were responsible for building and operating their robot system.
During the Robotic Competition, the students used LEGO EVO kits to create their Lego Mindstorm EV3 Core Robots. The Robots competed in the Autonomous Challenge where they had 10 seconds to knock over a 3D printed Star Wars toy. In preparation for the Autonomous Challenge, students had the opportunity to put the coding skills learned in the classroom into practice by programming the robot’s microprocessor to perform a task initiated with the touch of a button.
Teams also competed in a manual challenge where the robot was driven around an obstacle course picking up objects (3D printed Storm Troopers) carrying and placing them in corresponding-colored bins. In the last 30 seconds of the challenge the robots had to release a trap door and park on a ramp for more points.
The schools had one month to build/create and practice with the robots prior to the competition. For many of the students, the robotics competition was their first experience competing against other schools.
A total of 20 teams competed from eight elementary schools. The schools included were Daiches, Gallego, D.D. Hachar, Heights, Kawas, Milton, Ryan, and Santa Maria Elementary Schools who had multiple teams participate in the challenge.
Team Bob from Gallego Elementary School was announced the Alliance Captain winner, while the Cougar Claw Team from D.D. Hachar Elementary School was declared the First Team Alliance winner.
The Roboforce Team from Kawas Elementary School was named the Finalist Alliance Captain, while the Quad Squad Team from Ryan Elementary School was named the Alliance Finalist.
The Storm Trooper winners were Matteo Hernandez of Gallego Elementary School, Gracie Calderon of Kawas Elementary School, Briceidee Lopez of Ryan Elementary School, and Matthew Arriaga of Santa Maria Elementary School.
Winning most spirited costumes award were the Minions from Gallego Elementary School, and the best overall costume was won by Daiches Elementary School with their Star Wars theme.
Students from the Sabas Perez Early College High School assisted throughout the competition.
As part of the post-pandemic initiatives, LISD has re-started the elementary robotics competition. This is the fourth year that the district has hosted the robotics competition which began in the Spring of 2017. Since then, the district has added a fall and spring competition with students in grades second to fifth.
Returning teams from Gallego, D.D. Hachar, Kawas, and Milton Elementary Schools have competed since the original competition. Laredo Independent School District will host the next robotics competition in May of 2023.