Gallery: Cambridgeshire pupils take part in Lego tournament at University of Cambridge
School children from across the region gathered at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Engineering on Tuesday, January 14, to test their design and programming skills.
Over the past five months, children taking part the IET First Lego League Cambridge regional tournament have been working in teams of up to 10 to build and programme autonomous robots using Lego Mindstorms kits.
Their creations were put to the test at the tournament as teams involving 240 children went head to head with their robots tasked with completing as many missions as possible on a Lego playing field, in a time-limit of two-and-a-half minutes.
The robots – and their teams – were also judged in three other areas: robot design, core value and innovation project.
When the dust had settled, Team CERC from Cambourne Electronics and Robotics Club had the most points and was victorious.
The team will compete in the England and Wales final taking place in Bristol on February 22.
Joining them will be the runners-up, Team Aquarius from Colchester Royal Grammar School.
The Cambridge tournament – now in its third year – was hosted by Dr Hugh Hunt, reader in engineering dynamics at the University of Cambridge.
Joanna Colley, of Conscious Communications, which co-ordinates the event with Qualcomm and the Department of Engineering, said: “It was 18 teams from across Cambridge and the region competing head-to-head in robot games, but they also do teamwork tasks and a project assignment as well.
“It’s teams of up to 10 students and they’re all aged nine to 16.”
Joanna added that about 240 school children were present, along with their teachers and around 60 volunteers and judges from local industry.
“It was a really positive atmosphere,” she said. “All the kids were cheering each other on.”
The First Lego League is a global science and technology challenge designed to encourage young people to take an interest in real world issues and develop key skills that are crucial for their future careers.
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