Heavy fish from Speyer win price at the robotics competition!

Heavy fish from Speyer win price at the robotics competition!

What a success for the young talents of the Friedrich Magnus-Schwurd-Gymnasium in Speyer! The “Schwerdfischen” team cleared a special prize at the Robotik competition of the Hopp Foundation! A total of 22 teams competed against each other in the SAP arena, and the motto of the competition was "assistance systems in everyday life". Here creative ideas had to be developed without the support of the teachers, in the sense of independent learning.

The challenge demands a lot from the participants. So it was necessary to not only modify robot systems that come from Lego company, but also to program. The tasks were anything but simple: Among other things, garbage had to be recognized and properly disposed of, and it was necessary to develop a robot that provides the visually impaired person as an assistant. Against this background, the success of the "sword fish", which narrowly lost to the overall winner, is all the more remarkable.

award for innovative solutions

The performance in the "Smarter roller shutter" category was particularly impressive, where the team was able to take first place. The sophisticated roller shutter opens automatically in the morning and closes with darkness - a practical solution for many households! With simple materials such as cords, adhesive tapes and baking paper, this ingenious idea was brought to life. The Felix Roth team was supervised, who certainly has a good knack for promoting creative talents.

The entire event was divided into two sections. In the morning, the teams presented the season task, while the presentation of the daily task was at noon. The latter took place on a previously known playing field, and the task objects were redistributed without further ado. An educational competition in which not only the state of knowledge, but also the team play and the creativity of the children were challenged. The participants were between 11 and 15 years old and were selected according to the year of birth, so that they were not older or younger than the specifications this year.

MINT funding in focus

The First Lego League, within which this competition took place, is a proven program to promote MINT skills (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology) in young people. As part of these programs, the children not only learn basic MINT skills, but also self-confidence, teamwork and a positive approach to learning. It is a wonderful approach to arouse the curiosity of the children and to inspire them for technology. Whether in the "Discover" area, where the MINT basics are conveyed, or in the "Explore" and "Challenge" area, where the children build their robots and test their skills in the fight against other teams-the possibilities are diverse.

Overall, the robotics competition was not only a stage for technical skills, but also an excellent opportunity to promote the cohesion and creativity of the children involved. We can be excited to see how the "sword fish" and their peers will develop in the future!