Teens' robots pop balloons in Oak Ridge competition
Teens competed at Oak Ridge Associated Universities with robots programmed to "seek and destroy" balloons.
The robots rolled toward the balloons and popped them using devices that stuck out either out or down. Rather than being remote controlled however, the robots sought out the green balloons. Some robots increased in speed when they located them. An earlier competition that afternoon involved using the same robots to draw shapes.
It was the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Advanced Robotics Academy final presentations and competition, the result of a week of work. The team of Gavin Good and Phoenix Tyner won the robot skills competition. For their victory, they received a sensor kit to enhance the robot tinker kits received by all academy participants July 15 at the Pollard Technology Conference Center.
Chris Nelson, education project manager with ORISE, spoke to reporters after the event.
He explained that it was the first time ORISE had held an advanced robotics academy for high school students. Previously, he said, ORAU had an academy for middle school students. Students qualify by applying and getting notes from their teachers.
Nelson said students come from Oak Ridge, Knox County Jefferson County, and even one from Mississippi, who joined Knox County student Gavin Good to form a victorious team. No previous training is required.
"ORISE invests a lot in the future, and they want to help influence the future workforce and future researchers. And this is seen as trying to nurture that from a very young age," Nelson said.
Nelson said that the tinker kits the students received will allow them to continue tinkering with robots at home.
You can watch the competition on the ORISE Facebook page.
If you're interested in Robotics Academy or other ORISE programs, you can go to https://orise.orau.gov/.
Ben Pounds is a staff reporter for The Oak Ridger. Call him at (865) 441-2317, follow him on Twitter @Bpoundsjournal and email him at bpounds@oakridger.com.
This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Teens' robots pop balloons in Oak Ridge competition
