BRISTOL, Tenn. — Teams from several Northeast Tennessee schools battled during a robotics challenge at Fairmount Elementary School in Bristol on Saturday.
Two teams from Bristol Tennessee City Schools advanced to the state Vex IQ Challenge robotics finals at the first Bristol Bot Battle VEX IQ Challenge. The two teams, one from Anderson Elementary and one from Avoca Elementary, battled throughout the day against 19 elementary and middle school teams from across the region.
The VEX IQ Challenge Next Level was played on a 4-foot by 8-foot rectangular field, according to a news release. Two robots competed in the teamwork challenge as an alliance in 1-minute teamwork matches and worked collaboratively to score points. Teams also competed in the robot skills challenge where one robot took the field to score as many points as possible.
The matches consisted of driving skills matches, which were entirely driver controlled, and programming skills matches, which were autonomous with limited human interaction, the release states.
The object of the game was to attain the highest score by scoring and stacking colored hubs in building zones, removing bonus hubs from the hanging structure, and by parking or hanging on the hanging bar, the release states.
According to the sanctioning foundation, the VEX IQ Challenge provides elementary and middle school students with exciting, open-ended robotics and research project challenges that enhance their science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills through hands-on, student-centered learning, the release states. It fosters student development of the teamwork, critical thinking, project management, and communication skills required to prepare them to become the next generation of innovators and problem solvers.
Awards were given out in five categories. The Ranger Robotics team from Northwest Middle School in Knoxville received the Design Award. Gibbs Stem from Gibbs Middle School in Corryton received the Excellence Award and the Robot Skills Champion Award. TEAM 3-Weird Geniuses from Anderson Elementary and a team from Avoca were named teamwork champions.
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Teams from Bristol, Tennessee, elementary schools competed Saturday in the first Bristol Bot Battle VEX IQ Challenge at Fairmount Elementary School. Pictured, students from Avoca Elementary School work during a challenge.
Teams from Bristol, Tennessee, elementary schools competed Saturday in the first Bristol Bot Battle VEX IQ Challenge at Fairmount Elementary School. Pictured, students from Anderson Elementary School work during a challenge.
Teams from Bristol, Tennessee, elementary schools competed Saturday in the first Bristol Bot Battle VEX IQ Challenge at Fairmount Elementary School. Pictured, students from Haynesfield Elementary School work during a challenge.
Teams from Bristol, Tennessee, elementary schools competed Saturday in the first Bristol Bot Battle VEX IQ Challenge at Fairmount Elementary School. Pictured, students from Anderson Elementary School work during a challenge.