NORFOLK, Neb. - Norfolk Junior High held its first robotics competition last Saturday, drawing an impressive crowd despite the snowy, cold temperatures. Students were able to show off their innovative robots and what it took to compete in a high-profile event.

“We teach a lot of communication, problem-solving, teamwork skills,” Norfolk Junior High After Shock Facilitator John Mann said. “This is the culmination of all of that. Start to finish, we usually start with designing the base, wheels, motors, and then they start by coding that real basic robot project. After that, we problem-solve to pick rings up, how do we put them on posts. Those are all things that the kids have to work through and problem-solve.”

VEX Robotics and materials can be quite expensive and harder for smaller schools to compete with the bigger competition. Now, schools are creating open robotics, which allows them to use any materials available. Students will use 3D printers, plexiglass, plywood, and any form of wood.

Students were told not to sabotage one another because they are all working together and needed to score as many points within their 2-minute challenge.

“Advancing is just a matter of gaining as many points as you can and the rings are scored linearly,” Mann said. “One point, two points or three points. Then we have doubles. If you put a ring in a certain spot and all of your points are on a certain stick, those rings are now worth all kinds and it adds up together.”

“At the end of each competition, judges look at the average team’s qualifying rounds. Whoever has the most ranked points will be made into a four-team alliance,” Scotus Central Catholic Robotics Coach Kim Liebig said. “At the end of the season, like the regular tournament season, there is a final championship in Council Bluffs. The teams that show they are competent to do so will advance.”