VEX robotics more than just education
They’re only 10 years old but a group of Feilding students are taking on the world and winning.
While other students were on holiday Manchester St School and Feilding High School contested the VEX Robotics World Championship title in Texas, United States.
A mechanical breakdown hindered the high school’s chance of a top placing, but Manchester’s gang of tech experts came 22nd out of 272 teams.
More than 1 million students around the globe compete for a spot at the world championships and the world title had been held by New Zealand secondary schools for the past 10 years.
Manchester St School’s robotics teacher-in-charge Geoffrey Ward said his team were up against competitors from 44 countries.
Dubbed the Autobots, the team consists of Ethan Trask, Akira Tipping and Kellan Heap.
‘‘You think of the 1 million who tried to qualify and so the boys were up against the best of the best.
‘‘For us to come in the top few per cent is phenomenal.’’
But the experience wasn’t confined to the robotics court.
Both teams visited the Houston Museum of Natural Science and were taken on a tour of Nasa by Kiwi scientist Mana Vautier.
Vautier walked them past the world’s most historic corridors, including the control room for Apollo 11’s 1969 moon landing where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first two humans on the moon.
They also visited the USS Texas, the only remaining World War I-era dreadnought battleship.
Built in 1911, the children walked the deck of the ship and sat in the gunner’s seat, staring down the barrel of two 1.46 inch guns.
The grand adventure had ignited the student’s passion for robotics and travel, Ward said.
It was such a thrill the team were already throwing ideas around for next year’s robot.
‘‘Our guys have got back and they’re already planning their next trip,’’ he said.
‘‘One of the highlights would have been visiting Nasa. It was a powerful experience for the boys.
‘‘They loved the USS Texas, climbed all over that and played with the guns. Even for me as an adult it just about was the trip of a lifetime.’’
The Feilding High School team placed 57th after its robot snapped an axle.