Clearview robotics teams find success in Orillia
The inaugural JessEm Tools VEX Robotics Competition took place at Patrick Fogarty School in Orillia in December. Five teams from Clearview’s Cybergnomes Robotics program and two from the CyberGirls took part in the two-day event that hosted a combined total of 48 teams across two age groups (elementary school and high school) from across Ontario.
High school student robots were challenged to flip and score two sided caps on the ground and on poles, shoot at and flip high flags and engage in a pushing game of robot ‘King of the Castle’ on a series of platforms.
In the high school event (VEX Robotics Competition), the Cybergnomes team 2013R, in their first year of competition at this level, finished 5th in the Robot Skills Challenge component of the event. The CyberGirls (2013A) and their high shooting robot displayed a flawless, complex autonomous routine at the start of each match and were Tournament finalists at the event, winning the Innovate Award.
In the elementary school event (VEX IQ Competition), the Cybergnomes (20013A) tied for seventh and the Cybergirls (20013X) were the tournament champions, winning the Teamwork Challenge with their partners from Quantum Youth Labs in Richmond Hill. This marks the third year of CyberGirls competing in VEX IQ and their first tournament win. The girls will advance now to the Provincial Championships held next March in Brampton.
Anyone interested in experiencing the VEX Robotics Competitions and cheering on our local teams can come out to St. Joan of Arc School in Barrie on Jan. 12 and 13 or Jean Vanier School in Collingwood on Feb. 9 and 10, where all of the teams will once again be competing.
Anyone interested in joining CyberGirls or Cybergnomes programs (ages 8 to 18) can contact Jim Crawford at 705-720-0635 jwcrawford@rogers.com or Gary Page at 705-888-0731 or page.graphics@sympatico.ca.
VEX Robotics is an international competitive robotics league that encourages youth to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) through annual robotics challenges. Along with technical skills like programming and machine design, students learn key life skills like leadership, teamwork, self-confidence, public speaking, organization and more.
