NEWS RELEASE: UNDERWATER ROBOTICS CHALLENGES STUDENT COMPETITORS

HILO - Dozens of Hawaii elementary, middle and high school students excelled today during the MATE Big Island Regional ROV Underwater Robotics Competition at Hilo High School Pool by taking their robotic creations to the next level - driving them underwater.

Working in the complex world of submerged electronics, students and their mentors created remotely operating vehicles (ROVs) which are driven from a control system above the water's surface. In the underwater obstacle course, students must use their robot to complete complicated tasks, called missions.  This year's competition theme centered on the recent Gulf of Mexico oil spill and how ROV's played a vital role in correcting the problem. Students also presented a technical document and poster displays to the panel of judges.

For the Ranger Class Division among high school competitors, a Hilo High and Waiakea High schools alliance earned first place, followed by Kealakehe High and Waimea High from Kauai.   Among the intermediate school competitors for the Ranger Class Division, Kealakehe Intermediate took top honors, followed by Haili Christian School and Ke Kula o Nawahiokalaniopuu Public Charter School.  The younger division, called the Scout Class, recognized E.B. De Silva Elementary School with first place, Mt. View Elementary second and Earl’s Garage third.

Topical awards were also distributed to deserving teams in the following areas:

• Rookie of the Year Award - Haili Christian School
• Aloha Spirit Award - Waimea High School (Kauai)
• Outside of the Box - Hilo/Waiakea High School Alliance
• Guts ‘n Glory Award - Hilo Intermediate School
• Engineering Award - Kealakehe Intermediate School

About Robotics Education in Hawaii

Underwater ROV is one of six programs which are supported by the Hawai‘i Robotics Organizing Committee (ROC), including FIRST, FIRST LEGO League, Underwater ROV, Botball, VEX Robotics and Micro Robotics.

Recognizing the importance of promoting robotics education at an early age and sustaining students’ interest in STEM education throughout their schooling, Hawai‘i’s six robotics programs joined together to form the Hawai‘i Robotics Organizing Committee (ROC). The six of the robotics programs are coordinating efforts to promote robotics education in elementary, middle and high schools statewide.

To learn more about robotics education in Hawai‘i, visit the Hawai‘i Robotics Organizing Committee website at: www.hawaiiroc.org.

Upcoming Robotics Events:

• April 30: The Hawaii Underwater Robotic Challenge (HURC) is scheduled for April 30, 2011 to be held at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. HURC is the second underwater ROV competition for Hawaii's teams.
• April 27-30: Six Hawaii robotics teams will compete in the varsity level robotics program, FIRST Robotics Competition, at the FIRST Championships in St. Louis, Missouri April 27-30, 2011. Kealakehe High, McKinley High, Sacred Hearts Academy, Waiakea High, Waialua High and Waianae High will showcase their skills among the fierce global competition.
• May 9: Middle and high school robotics teams from across the state will compete at the Hawaii Convention Center on May 9 in the Botball Hawaii Regional Tournament.

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