Math, science, engineering and teamwork skills were put to the test in Brooklyn today as students competed using LEGO robots. Our Bree Driscoll has the story.
10-year-old PS 57 student Isabel Silva has been learning about robots for the past three years. But this year, she is exploring a whole new aspect of the technology.
"Well I have never used a sensor for a robot but I am learning about it and you need to program the sensor so the robot can stop and it is really hard to learn because I have never used a sensor on a robot before," Sliva said.
Silva is one of more than 250 students from around the city competing in the 2017 First Lego League Brooklyn Qualifiers. Teams have been working for five months on building a robot that is designed to do complex tasks. The goal is to put their science technology engineering and math skills to the test.
"It's putting it into practical terms so they can turn from playing with a robot on a competition field to Years from now programming the Canadarm Two on the international space station," said Norm Sutaria, director of programs for NYC FIRST.
"It really encourages them and makes them feel a part of something," said Daron Burrows, with the city's Department of Youth and Development. "Part of a community. It makes them feel cool and appreciated and smart."
This year's competition challenge is called Animal Allies — it asks teams to explore and research how people and animals interact, something students are really identifying with.
"Because they are really amazing creatures. Birds with mouths, beaks that can chop wood off," said Adryan Torres, a student at PS 100. "That is really amazing. We can't do that. We don't have beaks we have mouths."
"Dolphins they communicate using vibration sounds in the ocean so water pollution caused by humans can actually effect the sound in the ocean," said Melodie Whiting, a student at Young Women's Leadership School of Queens.
From here, winning teams will move on to the semifinal competition in early March.