Four West Hawaii robotics teams competed in the 2016 Astronaut Onizuka Science Day TMT VEX IQ Tournament Jan. 30. in Hilo.
Kohala VEX Robotics received the Build Award, Holualoa Elementary Ios received the Energy Award, and Holualoa Elementary Thunderbirds received the Think Award. The Hawaii Technology Academy, Kohala VEX Robotics, and Holualoa Elementary Ios all received invitations to the state championship tournament in Honolulu.
The VEX IQ Challenge, presented by the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation, is a new science, technology, engineering and math program for elementary and middle school students ages 8-14. Students build a robot using the VEX IQ robotics platform to solve an engineering challenge that is presented in the form of a game.
Teams work together scoring points in teamwork matches, and also display their robot’s skills individually in driver controlled and autonomous skills challenges. In addition to building robots, the VEX IQ Challenge will encourage students to actively learn about science, technology, engineering and mathematics with a STEM themed research project that consists of a written or media presentation.