Robotics program growing as teams compete for titles

Teams Lego Impossible and Butterfly Effect competed at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in early December. In tie-dye, from left: Aiden Kanti, Natalia Chan, Amelia Dhandapani, Yadnya Khairnar. In maroon, from left: Hannah Zhang, Irene Im, Heidi Tucker, Lilly Borden, Carbon Prigodich, Leo Tucker. (Courtesy photo/Cary Gumbert)

Brick by brick, the Lego Robotics program in Weston has grown into a districtwide extracurricular that offers hands-on experiences to students of all ages.

Seven Weston teams from the Middle School and Field School competed in the state championships in the FIRST Lego League in December. Two high school teams also made it to state-level competition in the FIRST Tech Challenge’s Advanced Division, making this season the most successful in Weston’s history, according to Cary Gumbert, chair of the district’s steering committee for robotics.

The FIRST robotics program, which spans grades four through 12, teaches students about science, engineering and technology through competitions that judge student-built robots and related projects at local and international levels.

The younger teams competed in the FIRST Lego League qualifier this fall. The competition included a series of missions that students must complete using a robot they built and an innovation project that helps solve a real-world issue.

Thuy Lam Saunders, a mentor for the team Lego Impossible, said the program teaches students teamwork, presentation skills and the ability to innovate, in addition to scientific knowledge.

“It’s complicated but we make time to do it,” Lam Saunders said. “It’s something different and unique. You get to play with Legos in a different way. You have to be creative and think about how you can use specific pieces for a specific function.”

This year, the competition’s theme was “unearthed.” The team Lego Impossible met with staff members from the Peabody Essex Museum and Brandeis University archeology professor Javier Urcid to discuss issues facing archeologists today.

One challenge is getting supplies to archeologists in the field, such as a replacement computer chip if one gets damaged by sand, so students designed a drone to help ferry items to working sites.

Gumbert said the competitions celebrate academics and encourage students to engage with STEM from a young age.

“It’s like a music program. It builds every year. It’s a long-term journey; the older students mentor the younger students,” he said.

Dohun Kim, a 10th grader at Weston High School, mentors members of both Lego Impossible and Butterfly Effect. He joined Lego robotics in seventh grade and is now a member of the GNCE Diamond team at the high school, which will compete later this season.

“The kids are very creative with their solutions already, so I try to help with more technical knowledge so they can expand and create more complex attachments or better designs,” Dohun said.

After qualifying in December, Weston High School team GNCE Mercury secured a place in the Advanced Division state championship, scheduled for March. GNCE Diamond also moved forward in the overall top spot.

A robot built by team GNCE Diamond in a game where robots toss Wiffle balls into goals. The team designed the robot to elevate 18 inches, allowing the robot of an ally team, Liquid Oxygen, to be in the scoring zone at the same time. (Courtesy photo/Cary Gumbert)

The program was initially made possible by a grant received from the Weston Education Enrichment Fund Committee, which raised funds for initial supplies and the first lab, according to Gumbert. As the program grows, operating costs are covered by the students, sponsors and donations.

The program has recruited two professional engineers to advise students, and the Middle School and Field School each have robotics labs.

“There’s kids in there after school every day and Saturday and Sunday,” Gumbert said.