Potter Junior High School proudly hosted its 3rd Annual Robotics Tournament, drawing 75 students from across three local schools: San Onofre School, Mary Fay Pendleton School, and, of course, Potter Junior High. The competition was fierce, with 18 teams battling for top honors in a series of exciting challenges.
The students, ranging from enthusiastic newcomers to seasoned robotics veterans, were tasked with more than just building a robot. This year’s event featured two main components: designing and programming a functional robot and creating an innovation project around a real-world theme. For the 2024 tournament, the theme of the innovation project was focused on the ocean—specifically, developing ideas on how to better explore and understand the world’s oceans.
Students were not only challenged to come up with creative and practical solutions but also had to collaborate, conduct thorough research, and present their findings on a project board. It was a true test of teamwork and problem-solving. The judging panel evaluated the students’ efforts in three categories: Best Robot Design, Best Robot Game, and Best Innovation Project. There was also an Overall Winner, who excelled in all three categories.
The competition proved to be an excellent learning experience for the students, who were immersed in the world of coding, robotics, and innovation. They also had the opportunity to embody the six core values of the program: Discovery, Innovation, Impact, Inclusion, Teamwork, and Fun.
Congratulations to the Winners!
The hard work and dedication of the students were evident in their impressive projects. Here are the winners of each category:
- Best Innovation Project: Team Big Mac with a high score of 36. This team impressed the judges with their innovative ideas for ocean exploration and creative approach to presenting their findings.
- Best Robot Design: Team 20,000 Legos Under the Sea with a high score of 34. This team’s robot design stood out for its originality and functionality, capturing the judges’ attention with its clever integration of various components.
- Best Robot Game: Team Eurypterid with an outstanding score of 215. Their robot game featured precise programming and engaging gameplay, earning them top marks in this highly competitive category.
- Overall Winner: Team AI Avengers, who took home the top honors with a high score across all three categories. Their combination of technical expertise, creative thinking, and effective collaboration earned them the title of Overall Winner, showcasing their exceptional performance throughout the event.
The tournament not only celebrated the students’ technical abilities but also highlighted the importance of collaboration and creativity in tackling complex problems. As the competition came to a close, it was clear that the students had learned valuable life skills, such as coding, teamwork, and how to approach challenges with an innovative mindset.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the teams and participants. Their passion for robotics and innovation shone brightly throughout the event. A big thank you also to the teachers, mentors, and volunteers who made this event possible, and we look forward to seeing how the students will continue to explore the exciting world of robotics in future tournaments!
Best Innovation Project- Team Big Mac
Best Robot Design Team 20,000 Legos Under the Sea
Best Robot Game- Team Eurypterid
Overall Winner- Team AI Avengers