The R2D2s at First LEGO League State Championship

Shorecrest Middle School Robotics team 1449, The R2D2s, traveled to Niceville, Florida, to compete in the First LEGO League State Championship. The event was held at at the Raider Arena on the campus of Northwest Florida State College. There were 42 teams from across the state of Florida that earned a bid to the state competition. The R2D2s' highest scoring robot run scored an impressive 320 points.

Another component of the competition is the Innovative Project. The problem that they were challenged with this season focused on moving cargo from one place to another. Team 1449’s Innovative Project focused on the transportation of bees from one farm to another. In their research, the Chargers found that approximately 30% of hives are lost during the transportation process. A large part of this loss is due to overheating. The team developed an app, Bee Cool, that trucking companies that transport bees can use to signal when temperatures reach a dangerous level. When temperatures reach this level, it is imperative that the driver find a way to cool down the hives. Driver’s quickly search for water sources like fire stations, so they can spray down the hives. The Bee Cool app hastens the process by identifying water sources within 5 miles of the interstate, as well as provided navigation to the water source.

In addition to the robot game and innovative project, The R2D2s also presented their robot design and game strategy to a panel of judges. Their design incorporated two color sensors and a gyro sensor. One of the team’s goals this season was to program the robot to follow a line using the color sensor, as well as to use the gyro to keep the robot straight as it moves about the field.

The R2D2s earned second place for their robot design.