End-Tech, a robotics team from Endon High School in Staffordshire, recently celebrated after winning the regional competition. That exciting win to close out the game ensured their qualification for the upcoming national tournament! This triumph is the squad’s second-straight triumph at this level. They came in first place above many other groups, including a particularly innovative team from Bradford.
The five-member team, comprised of James, Malachi, Owen, and two additional members, built and programmed their robot during and after school hours. Their hard work helped them build a super-efficient machine that was able to complete a wide range of complex tasks defined by the judges. As the competition wore on, the team was able to consistently iterate on their robot, supplementing it with upgrades over time to optimize its capabilities.
As Malachi pointed out about the unfamiliar level of competition this year, one thing that has changed is that “teams are better this year.” This announcement brings to light the struggles that plague End-Tech as they aimed to keep their winning streak alive. The robot’s cutting edge features, including new colour sensors, were critical to their success. Owen explained, “We’ve got a whole different robot with colour sensors this time, that makes it a bit easier to use.”
The regional competition featured a series of obstacles meant to push the limits of each robot’s abilities. Perhaps the most important feat was showcasing their robot to the judges. This legislative driving force provided the team ample opportunity to show off their hard work and creativity. Points were then distributed according to how well each team completed these challenges, putting even more focus on the importance of a team’s strategic planning and execution.
End-Tech took a huge victory in the regional competition! They will go on to represent Staffordshire at the first UK National Final of the first Lego League in Harrogate later this year. The team’s hard-earned success not only demonstrates their technical prowess, but strengthens their pull as one of the premier teams in the competitive world of robotics.
As they await their turn in the national spotlight, End-Tech’s members are anxious to expand on their previous experiences. The team’s deep-rooted dedication to innovation shines through in their recent transition towards a new coding software based in Python. Malachi said it was amazing what this shift has done to deepen their work. They now enjoy a deeper and more durable competitive advantage heading into future open contests.