Community & Business
1 December, 2023
Students put robots to the test
YOUNG intelligent minds from Malanda State School put their imagination to the test, competing in the regional VEX Robotics Championships.
VEX Robotics, an international competition that brings schools from around the globe together, challenges teams in a series of exhilarating tasks.
These challenges include the design and construction of robots, interviews with judges, robot coding, and even team robot driving challenges.
In their inaugural year, the Malanda State School Robotics Team, who was the only Tablelands team in the region to compete, squared off against some of the most experienced opponents in the Far North.
They managed to qualify one of their teams, "Team D," for the finals, finishing in 10th place.
The excitement from the finals rippled through the other teams, with "Team A" securing a 12th place finish, "Team C" closely behind at 13th place, and "Team B" securing the 15th spot.
Despite the slight disappointment there was no “robot fighting” like in movies, MSS Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) teacher Greg Lanyon said it was an experience the team will never forget.
“Our debut at the VEX Robotics Championships was amazing," he said.
“We were in a league of seasoned competitors, and our students held their ground, even exceeding our own expectations.
“It's safe to say that Malanda State School will be a force to reckon with in the future!”
The team are now getting ready to compete again next year.
