An alliance of Waialua High and Waiakea High Schools won the 2nd Annual American School in Japan VEX Robotics Tournament held today in Tokyo, hosted by the American School in Japan.
Two teams of students and coaches from Waialua, Oahu, three teams from Waiakea and one team from Kohala, Big Island, competed against teams from Tokyo, Yokohama, Taiwan and Thailand. Waialua High School also won the Best Build award.
VEX Robotics competitions are being held in many different cities, states and countries, including eight tournaments hosted in Hawaii as well as the Pan Pacific VEX Robotics Championships, scheduled for December 3-5, 2010 at the Hawaii Convention Center.
This year’s game, VEX Round Up is played on a 12’x12’ square field by two alliances – one “red” and one “blue” – composed of two teams each, who compete in matches consisting of a twenty-second autonomous period followed by two minutes of driver-controlled play. The object of the game is to attain a higher score than your opponent alliance by scoring tubes upon goalposts, “owning” goalposts and by low hanging or high hanging from the center “ladder.”
Students, with guidance from their teachers and mentors will aim to build the most innovative robots possible and work together to obtain the most points possible. In addition to just having a great time and building amazing robots, through their participation in the VEX Robotics Competition and their work within their team, students learn many academic and life skills.
While in Japan, Hawaii’s high school students are visiting an underwater robotics laboratory in Yokohama for a tour, in addition to visiting cultural sites throughout the country.
VEX Robotics is one of six major educational robotics programs in Hawaii. Recognizing the importance of promoting robotics at an early age and sustaining students’ interest in STEM education throughout their schooling, Hawaii’s six robotics programs (FIRST Robotics, Botball, Underwater ROV, VEX Robotics, Micro Robotics, FIRST LEGO League) have joined together to form the Hawaii Robotics Organizing Committee (ROC). As a critical component of the Hawaii Innovation Initiative, robotics engages students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and provides them with the teamwork, critical thinking and problem-solving skills they need to compete in the 21st century workplace.
To learn more about robotics education in Hawaii and for a complete schedule of robotics competitions occurring across the state, visit www.hawaiiroc.org.
Upcoming ROC Events:
- Wednesday, Nov. 10 – Oahu East VEX Tournament – Iolani School
- Saturday, Nov. 13 – FLL District Qualifying Tournaments:
- Hawai‘i District Tournament – Kawananakoa Hall – Hilo
- Leeward District Tournament – Holomua Elementary School
- Windward District Tournament – Kahaluu Elementary school
- Saturday, Nov. 20 – Imiloa Invitational VEX Robotics Festival – Hilo
For more information, contact:
Corrie Heck
Chief Coordinator
Hawai‘i Robotics Organizing Committee (ROC)
(808) 351-3865