After a whirlwind couple of days in St. Louis, two Woodland Hills VEX Robotics teams have returned home with valuable experience in their pockets and plenty of stories to tell.
Sixth grade squad Robotic Wolverines and eighth grade squad Hardwired took part in the annual VEX Robotics World Championships April 28 through April 30 at the America's Center Convention Complex in St. Louis. The championship program features multiple events running across various grade levels. The Robotic Wolverines competed in the Elementary Division, while Hardwired competed in the Middle School Division. The two qualified for the Worlds by earning the Excellence Awards in their divisions at the Western Pennsylvania State Championships.
Both teams had opportunities to enjoy St. Louis together while also having unique experiences on the VEX Robotics floor. Each had a booth set up where they could work on their robots during breaks in the action as well as meet with visitors and other teams passing by. They could also explore the large convention hall to see exhibits, play games, and check out what other teams had created.
The VEX IQ Robotics Competition championships began with practice rounds and a couple of early match-ups on Tuesday, followed by a full day of competition on Wednesday, and then closed out with the final rounds and championships on Thursday. Each level of competition had a parade of nations, as the championships are a truly international event.
During the competition, teams are randomly paired together and tasked to complete as many tasks on the game board in a set period of time. Points are awarded for completing those tasks. The competition requires preparation, problem solving, and effective communication, which can be a challenge when there is a language barrier. The Robotic Wolverines used the Google Translate app at one point to strategize with a team from China, while at other points teams use hand signals or means of communication when warranted.
The Robotic Wolverines placed a respectable 37th in their division and had opportunities to compete with teams from Kansas City, Michigan, California, Colorado, Virginia, Korea, and multiple teams from China.
Hardwired also did well, finishing 43rd in their division. They competed with teams from Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Ohio, Minnesota, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, and China.
This is the second consecutive year that Woodland Hills has had a team represented at the World Championships. The Woodland Hills School District would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who helped make the trip possible, including the additional support from U.S. Steel. Way to go Wolverines in representing Woodland Hills on the world stage!