Hundreds were on hand today to cheer on some of Hawaii’s most efficient athletes.These robots are conceived, built, and operated by top young minds from around America, including right here in Hawaii.
The goal is just that, a goal.
And when it comes to scoring in a robot competition, no bot is badder than number 359, the national powerhouse, Waialua High School Robotics Team.
"This program is successful because we combine teamwork with hard work to produce a good robot,” said Joshua Heintz of the Waialua robotics team.
So good other teams want to unite.
"We hope to win, and we hope to be in alliance with like Waialua or one of the really old veteran teams,” said Jun Sasaki of the Maui robotics team.
And they did impress -- drawing “ooohs” and “aaahs” from the crowd with their unique robot lift for two points.
"We want kind of like the cool factor. And to be able to just use any of the four poles, depending on where we are at the end of the match and be able to just climb,” said Glenn Lee of Waialua.
But this competition is about more than coolness.
These young students learn lots of valuable lessons, like perseverance.
"We were one team up against three because the other two teams in our alliance weren't able to make their robot run, or pass safety inspections,” said Bronson Oka from Damien Memorial School.
The First in Hawaii Regional Robotics Competition will continue through the weekend on the University of Hawaii Manoa campus.
