On April 25th, Alston Ridge Middle School (Cary, North Carolina) transformed into a high-energy engineering arena for the STRIPE Competition Spring 2026 Divisional. From the moment doors opened, it was nonstop action. Robots moving, teams strategizing, and scores climbing.
New this season, the Jr. Robotics Nebula Engineering Challenge stole the spotlight. Students ages 5–9 designed and built LEGO motorized amusement park rides, then documented their engineering process like true innovators. It wasn’t just building, it was thinking, testing, improving, and creating in ways that turned heads all day.
Katie, a guest judge from a local engineering firm, captured the moment perfectly: “Zebra Robotics is doing something really meaningful, introducing students as young as five to the engineering design process in a way that builds both confidence and capability. It was impressive to see not only their creativity and problem solving, but also their composure, teamwork, and focus in a competitive setting. These are the kinds of skills that truly prepare students for the future.”
Across the gym, the intensity ramped up as top teams from across North Carolina raced the 2-minute clock in the Ride Rush Robot Game. Every second mattered. Every move counted.
STAR Division Champions Team Bionic (520) Rad Re-Runner (515) Spare Parts (505)
SUPERNOVA Division Champions Evil Bunnies 3.0 (530) Voltage Vipers (405) Captain Rex (335)
Next up, the stakes get even higher. Teams are headed to Niagara Falls, Canada this June for the STRIPE Competition Internationals, where the best from across North America will battle it out at the ultimate Ride Rush championship.
At Zebra’s STRIPE competitions since 2022, we’ve noticed something beautiful: the most successful teams aren’t always the ones with the fanciest robots. They’re the ones whose coaches have mastered the delicate art of teaching kids how to think, not what to think.
You know that moment when a student’s eyes light up—not because they got the right answer, but because they finally understand the question? That’s where the real magic happens in robotics mentorship.
Let me introduce you to three such mentors who’ve left permanent fingerprints on our programs.Their approaches are as different as their personalities, but they all share one secret ingredient: they remember what it felt like to be a beginner.
The Mentor Who Says Less to Teach More
You’ll find Coach Sanjana in her natural habitat: sitting cross-legged on the floor surrounded by frustrated middle schoolers, asking dangerous questions like:
“What would happen if we tried the exact opposite of what the instructions suggest?”
Her superpower? Silence. She’ll watch a robot fail spectacularly three times before gently asking, “What pattern do you see in these crashes?” The moment when students realize she’s known the solution all along—but let them discover it themselves—is pure gold.
“During Last STRIPE season,” she told me, “a student rebuilt our entire chassis because I wouldn’t tell her which screw was loose. She named the robot ‘The Professor’ because it taught her more than I ever could.”
The Mentor Who Builds Families, Not Just Teams
Coach Tahmoor runs his team like a tiny startup where everyone has two titles: their technical role and their human role. You might be the “Lead Programmer and Chief Encouragement Officer” or the “Hardware Specialist and Conflict Resolver.”
His secret weapon? The “Before We Build” ritual:
Share one non-robotics thing happening in your life
Name one teammate’s strength you’re grateful for
Predict one thing that will go wrong today (and laugh about it in advance)
“We thought we’d lost our star coder when her family relocated last November,” Tahmoor remembers. “But every Tuesday at 4 PM, without fail, her pixelated face would appear on our laptop screen, troubleshooting code from 2,000 miles away. Some bonds outlast zip codes.”
The Mentor Who Keeps the Play in Programming
Coach Vikram workspace looks like a mad scientist’s birthday party. There’s a “Wall of Epic Fails” celebrating broken prototypes, a few drone bots, and a couple of 3d printers
His philosophy? “If you’re not occasionally laughing so hard that soda comes out your nose, you’re doing robotics wrong.”
When tensions run high before competitions, he’ll suddenly announce: “Emergency dance party! Your robot can’t learn from stressed-out humans.” The kids groan every time—and every time, it works.
“The real win isn’t trophies,” Vikram says. “It’s when alumni visit and say, ‘I chose my major because of how you made circuits feel like play.’”
The Thread That Connects Them
What makes these Zebra mentors extraordinary isn’t their technical expertise (though they have plenty). It’s that they:
Listen to what students aren’t saying (the nervous fidgeting, the hesitation to ask for help)
Remember that robotics is just the vehicle for teaching resilience and creativity
Measure success in lightbulb moments, not just scoreboard results
As one parent wrote to us: “My daughter came home and said, ‘My coach believes in me more than I believe in myself.’ That’s the kind of math that really adds up.”
To all the mentors reading this—whether you’re with Zebra or cheering from elsewhere—thank you for being the quiet force behind so many young discoverers.The robots are lucky to have you.
“Young students working on a coding project, exploring the intersection of AI and robotics at Zebra Robotics.”
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industries, automating tasks, and reshaping the way we work. As AI becomes more advanced, many people are asking: “What is the impact of AI on the need for coding knowledge?” and “Does AI make coding less necessary?” At Zebra Robotics, we believe that the rise of AI makes coding education more important than ever. Here’s why.
What is the Impact of AI on the Need for Coding Knowledge?
AI is undoubtedly changing the coding landscape, but it’s not replacing the need for coding knowledge—it’s enhancing it. Here’s how:
Coding as a Foundation for AI: Understanding coding is essential for working with AI. Whether it’s writing algorithms, debugging AI models, or integrating AI into applications, coding remains a critical skill.
AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement: AI is a powerful tool that can automate repetitive tasks, but it still requires human oversight and input. Coders are needed to design, train, and refine AI systems.
New Opportunities in AI Development: The rise of AI has created new roles in machine learning, data science, and AI ethics, all of which require strong coding skills.
Does AI Make Coding Less Necessary? Are Coders’ Jobs at Risk?
While AI can automate certain aspects of coding, it doesn’t make coding less necessary—it shifts the focus of what coders do. Here’s why coders’ jobs aren’t at risk:
AI Can’t Replace Creativity and Problem-Solving: AI excels at common tasks, but it lacks creating custom solutions that is specific to a particular business problem, the creativity and critical thinking skills that human coders bring to the table are hard to be replace. Coders are needed to solve complex problems, design innovative solutions, and think outside the box.
The Human Touch in Coding: Coding isn’t just about writing lines of code—it’s about understanding user needs, designing intuitive interfaces, and creating meaningful experiences. These are areas where human coders excel.
AI Creates More Jobs Than It Replaces: According to the World Economic Forum, AI is expected to create 97 million new jobs by 2025, many of which will require coding skills.
“Zebra Robotics students celebrate their success at STRIPE competition, showcasing their coding and problem-solving skills.”
Why Learning to Code is More Important Than Ever
As AI continues to evolve, coding education becomes even more critical for the next generation. Here’s why:
Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Learning to code helps children develop essential skills like logical reasoning, algorithmic thinking, and debugging—skills that are crucial in an AI-driven world.
Kids for Future Careers: Whether it’s developing AI systems, working in cybersecurity, or designing apps, coding is a foundational skill for many high-demand careers.
Creativity and Innovation: Coding empowers children to bring their ideas to life, whether it’s creating a game, building a robot, or developing an AI-powered app.
Resilience and Adaptability: In a world where technology is constantly changing, coding teaches children to adapt, learn new tools, and embrace challenges.
“The Zebra Robotics logo, representing our commitment to empowering the next generation of coders and innovators.”
Zebra Robotics: Preparing Kids for an AI-Driven Future
At Zebra Robotics, we’re committed to helping children develop the skills they need to thrive in an AI-driven world. Our programs:
Introduce kids to coding and robotics through hands-on, project-based learning.
Teach critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity—skills that AI can’t replicate.
Provide a supportive environment where kids can explore, experiment, and innovate.
The rise of AI doesn’t make coding less important—it makes it more essential than ever. By learning to code, children develop the skills they need to succeed in a technology-driven world, from critical thinking and problem-solving to creativity and innovation. At Zebra Robotics, we’re proud to empower the next generation of coders, innovators, and problem-solvers.
Coach Ram guiding young innovators as they tackle robotics challenges at the STRIPE Competition. With teamwork, strategy, and problem-solving at play, these students are preparing to push the boundaries of STEM learning!
In today’s fast-paced, information-rich world, critical thinking skills are more important than ever. These skills empower individuals to analyze information objectively, evaluate evidence, and make informed decisions. For parents in British Columbia (BC), where the demand for STEM education is growing, robotics and coding offer a unique and engaging way to help children develop these essential skills. At Zebra Robotics, we’re proud to bring our innovative programs to BC, fostering the next generation of critical thinkers and problem-solvers.
Precision, creativity, and engineering in action! A dedicated young innovator fine-tunes his robot, bringing ideas to life through hands-on STEM learning at Zebra Robotics.
How Robotics Enhances Critical Thinking
Problem Identification and Analysis: Robotics projects often present complex challenges that require students to identify the root cause of problems and analyze potential solutions. For example, building a robot to navigate a maze involves understanding the problem, brainstorming solutions, and evaluating the best approach.
Design and Planning: Designing and building a robot involves careful planning. Students must consider factors like functionality, materials, and programming, which enhances their ability to think strategically and plan effectively.
Testing and Iteration: The process of testing and refining a robot encourages students to analyze results, identify areas for improvement, and iterate on their designs. This iterative process is at the heart of critical thinking and innovation.
Troubleshooting: When a robot doesn’t work as expected, students must use their critical thinking skills to diagnose the problem and find a solution. This hands-on problem-solving builds resilience and adaptability.
Programming the future—one block at a time! A young coder focuses on refining their LEGO robotics project, turning creativity into code at Zebra Robotics.
How Coding Enhances Critical Thinking
Logical Reasoning: Coding involves breaking down complex tasks into smaller, logical steps. This process strengthens logical reasoning skills, helping students approach problems methodically.
Algorithmic Thinking: Creating algorithms requires students to think systematically and develop step-by-step instructions for a computer to follow. This skill is essential for solving real-world problems efficiently.
Debugging: Identifying and fixing errors in code requires careful analysis and attention to detail. Debugging teaches students to think critically and persist through challenges.
Abstract Thinking: Coding often involves working with abstract concepts and data structures, which helps students develop abstract thinking skills. This ability to think beyond the concrete is crucial for innovation.
“Critical thinking is the foundation of innovation, and at Zebra Robotics, we believe every child has the potential to think critically, solve problems, and create a better future. Through robotics and coding, we’re empowering students in British Columbia to tackle challenges, think creatively, and build the skills they need to thrive in a technology-driven world.” – Satish Thiyagarajan, Co-founder and CEO, Zebra Robotics
Zebra Robotics: Fostering Critical Thinking Through Robotics and Coding
At Zebra Robotics, we’re committed to helping students in British Columbia develop critical thinking skills through our hands-on programs:
Challenging Projects: Our robotics and coding projects are designed to push students to think critically and creatively.
Project-Based Learning: We use a project-based approach that encourages experimentation, collaboration, and problem-solving.
Expert Guidance: Our experienced instructors provide the support and mentorship students need to succeed.
Why Choose Zebra Robotics in BC?
As we expand into British Columbia, we’re excited to bring our award-winning programs to families in the region. Here’s why parents in BC are choosing Zebra Robotics:
Coach Asad proudly poses with his team of young innovators after their big win at the STRIPE Competition! Celebrating their hard-earned certificates!
Local Impact: We’re dedicated to supporting BC’s growing demand for STEM education and preparing students for future careers in technology and innovation.
Engaging Learning: Our programs make learning fun and interactive, ensuring students stay motivated and inspired.
Robotics and coding are more than just technical skills, they’re powerful tools for developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation. By enrolling your child in Zebra Robotics, you’re giving them the opportunity to build these essential skills in a fun and engaging environment.
Ready to help your child develop critical thinking skills through robotics and coding? Visit our BC location page to learn more about our programs and register today!
Beautiful beaches, incredible cuisine, and fierce robotic competition awaits all at the Puerto Rico WRO Invitational!
The two teams stopping by the water after the event.
Last week saw two of our teams, Stunky Monkeys and AR 24, heading over to the Puerto Rico to compete in the World Robot Olympiad Invitations! These two teams were asked to represent Canada on the world stage, an honour they were excited to receive!
They spent a couple of short months preparing, perfecting their runs as best they could, while also trying to prepare for the surprise challenge. Surprise challenges often doesn’t get attempted by many teams due to their on-the-spot nature but can provide teams with a boost in points to help get them ahead.
Feeling confident, they packed their bags and headed down to beautiful Puerto Rico alongside the very founder of Zebra Robotics.
The first day brought many surprises. Competition was stiff with many strong teams from across the globe working hard to set themselves apart from the crowd, vying, of course, for first place by the end of the day. Doing so would make quite the impression, showing that the country they represent is to be taken seriously in the world of STEM.
Our teams worked hard running their robots with precision and fixing issues as they appeared. With a little bit of elbow grease and quick thinking they managed to secure not just a first-place position, but also a second-place position by the end of the day! Thus, cementing Canada as a dangerous competitor in the field of STEM. An incredible achievement!
At the event, representing Canada.
Day two became even more intense as teams began fueling their furnaces and beating their war drums. Some tried to change their tactics on the fly, while others stayed the path of their original plans. As the competition rose, our teams knew they needed to do something bold.
Their runs had been thus far consistent, a must for robotics. But the competition was getting fierce, and others had started to shake off their rust. The previous day had seen our teams attempting the surprise challenge which had helped them to pull ahead and get their first and second place wins. But doing so on the second day is much riskier. Not only is it a different surprise challenge from the day before, but you also get one less attempt at it, making it a sink or swim situation.
After carefully mulling it over, they decided the risk was worth it. They felt confident in their knowledge and capabilities. They’ve done so many competitions before. They’ve practiced their craft for what felt like forever. They knew they could do it.
With limited time, they wrote new code to attempt the final day’s surprise challenge, testing it only briefly before completing their final run. Few others even thought about trying to complete the surprise challenge, let alone take a crack at it. And so, when rubber hit mat, the judges were impressed by our team’s tenacity.
Posing for the camera after another fun day of competition.
As the day came to a close, the judges went to confer with one another. As the judges tallied, exchange score cards, and deliberated, everyone waited with bated breath. A conscious was reached. A decision made.
The totals were close, with only a handful of points separating winners in some cases. Out of twenty-four teams, our Elementary category team earned a fourth-place position, just barely below third. Out of thirty teams, our Junior category team also earned a fourth-place position, also just a few points away from third.
We are incredibly proud of our team’s hard work! While they were just shy of a podium finish, the fact that we shocked everyone with our first and second place positions on the first day is something to celebrate. Not only that, but our runs were consistent, something that is required for robotics. Especially if you want to do it as a career. And of course, the fact that both our teams attempted the surprise challenges shows that the knowledge we have imparted onto them gives them the ability to do things on their own. To act boldly, autonomously, and without reservation.
Already our two teams are looking forward, hungrily eyeing their next competition, and already looking to prepare for their next attempt at first on the world stage. So keep an eye out, because sometime soon these incredible young engineers will be taking home the gold.
At Zebra Robotics, we are proud of all of our robotics teams, but we are especially delighted when a team first reaps the rewards of their collaboration and determination. Milton Christian School (MCS)’s Republic of MCS is just such a team.
Republic of MCS is advancing to provincial competition in First Lego League (FLL) after their first-ever win at regional competition on December 9, 2023. Provincials will be held at Durham College in Oshawa, ON on January 20, 2024.
Republic of MCS at Regionals
“I knew the students and coaches were working hard these past few months,” said MCS Principal Howie Martin. “It was nice to see their hard work pay off.”
Throughout their preparation, the team worked most on collective problem-solving skills. Teamwork is an essential element of doing well at FLL competitions, and Republic of MCS honed those skills over months of work.
“The chief strength of our FLL team lies in our collaborative and innovative approach to robotics challenges,” said Coach Tahmoor. “Since the MCS team has members from grades 6 to grade 8, each member brings a unique perspective and set of skills to the table.”
Initially, each grade had its own approach to solving the problem, but it was only after the team worked together and refined a solution that they could beat the competition and win the Robot Design Award for a robot that is “mechanically sound, durable, efficient and highly capable.”
“I definitely think that this win will have an incredible impact on STEM education at our school,” said Catherine Magat, MCS teacher and coach. “I also hope that we would see STEM education be a positive influence on the students, particularly in encouraging them to explore STEM fields.” Principal Martin agrees that he hopes more students will participate in robotics next year and beyond.
The team is proud of the win and eager to get to work for provincials. The wider MCS community is rallying behind the team as well. According to Magat, “The school has been so supportive of the team and are proud of what they have accomplished.”
Coach Tahmoor wins the Coach/Mentor Award
Republic of MCS is now practicing the various challenges to perfect their robot and increase their score to hopefully do well enough at provincials to qualify for nationals.
In addition to advancing to provincials and winning the Robot Design Award, the team celebrates Coach Tahmoor, from Zebra Robotics, who won a Coach Award for his mentorship and leadership for the MCS team.
Zebra has been partnering with Milton Christian School (MCS) for three years, offering robotics curriculum in the school and coaching a robotics team. Zebra Robotics offers courses in its many locations throughout the GTA, in addition to partnering with specific schools. Zebra also sponsors the STRIPE Competition to help students test and develop their STEM and collaboration skills.
Months. It had been months of tweaking, tinkering, and labouring over their various robots in preparation for the World Robotic Olympiad (WRO) Internationals. The students would come in whenever they had the time to spare between school and clubs. They worked weeknights and weekends on their projects, readying themselves for the challenge ahead. But as November 7-9 approached, they finally felt ready to represent Canada on the world stage.
As the competition date approached, they traveled down by plane to Panama City, anticipating stiff competition. They pulled into their hotels and began tinkering and tweaking some more. Their families were behind them. Canada was behind them. Zebra Robotics was behind them. They were ready to perform.
The RoboMission and RoboSports members travelling to the event.
The WRO stage was electric. Teams from all over the world were primed, ready to show off the skills they’d worked so very hard on. The first up were the RoboMission competitors. This was our team’s first WRO International and they were grade 8 competitors in a sea of high schoolers. But the team wasn’t discouraged. They did some final tweaks, then set their robot to work on this year’s themed challenges. After a hard-fought battle, they were defeated. But our RoboMission team took it in stride and have learned from the experience. Nimbler designs, tighter programming, and an anticipatory mindset can be expected for next year, when they rise to the challenge again.
The RoboMission Team with their robot
RoboSports were up next. Like the RoboMission team, they had never experienced a WRO International before. They too were also among the youngest in the category, going against university and college level students. With some final tweaks, they finely tuned their robot. The game? Table tennis. Throughout the first day, they were nigh unstoppable. They won match after match, carving out a 3-0 lead by the afternoon. But, as with RoboMission, experience tipped the scales more than expected. By day two, our RoboSports team fell behind, beaten back by more experienced teams. Placing 30th, they were proud to have made it that far. They felt that they had learned a lot from the experience and took notes on the losses they had so that they could come back next year, stronger than ever.
The RoboSports team talking to a judge
This just left our Future Innovators team of Dave Grewal and Shourya Sheth. If you’ve been keeping along with our blog, you know that they had designed a robot to help combat biofouling on cargo ships. The robot would scale the sides of the cargo ships, removing biomaterial. This, in turn, would help reduce the spread of invasive species and improve fuel efficiency on the vessel. The idea is incredible on its own, but the competition isn’t just judged on idea alone. The team also must effectively communicate the idea, present confidently, and push the benefits of their innovative project.
The team had practiced their pitch numerous times by this point. They even had hands-on experience presenting at an Oakville fair that Zebra attended, as well as at a celebration event for MPPs Nina Tangri and Deepak Anand. They were confident. They were ready.
As the competition kicked off, the judges milled about from project to project, assessing and critiquing. After a table was judged, other teams would flood the table, asking questions about the judges, what they were looking for, how hard their questions would be, etc. But our team was confident in their position and patiently waited at their table for judgement. When asked about the experience Dave noted, “Throughout the first day of the competition, I felt confident during three of the judging sessions…although there lingered a slight nervousness and intimidation from the impressive projects presented by others.”
The Future Innovators Team taking a photo with the Judges
The first pair of judges came and went. They were stoic, giving away nothing of their feelings about our Future Innovators’ idea. The only feedback came in the form of more judgement. Another pair of judges. Another set of hard questions. Scribbling on paper. A thank you. Moving on.
Day one finished, and our team was still in the running. They were ecstatic, proud of their ability to articulate themselves and their idea so thoroughly. As day two started, they put on their finest. Once more, judges passed through the booths, with tougher and tougher questions, testing the intricate knowledge of the teams. However, for the first part of the day, the judges steered clear of our competitors booths. Shourya said, “I was disappointed when we didn’t have callbacks because we felt our presentations went really well.”But as the day rolled on, eventually, the judges turned their sights on our competitors. Dave commented, “The unexpected turn of events heightened my confidence.” Steeled by their previous experiences, our team effortlessly answered any curveballs that came at them, demonstrating that they had thoroughly thought out their innovative design.
And then it was over. After 8 relentless rounds of judging, the day finished, and the winners would be decided after a long round of deliberation. They packed up their project and waited for several agonizing hours to see if their hard work prevailed.
And we are proud to say that it did.
When the winners were announced, our team was honoured to hear that they placed Second in the Future Innovators—Senior category with their project on biofouling. History was made, as they stepped up to the podium to receive their award, as this is the first time Canada has ever made it into the top 3 since 2014, when Canada first joined WRO. Holding up the Canadian flag, Dave and Shourya stood proud of their accomplishments, excited to have written a paragraph in history.
Dave and Shourya posing with their trophy
When asked how they felt about their win, Shourya said, “The most rewarding part of the competition was learning how to build more complicated and industrial robots aside from Lego, which could actually be used to benefit the world.” Dave commented, “The most rewarding aspect was establishing friendships and connections with participants from various countries. I gained valuable insights from diverse perspectives, including those of fellow competitors, investors, coaches, and representatives from other nations.”
If you get a chance, ask Shourya and David about their innovative project, as well as their experiences at WRO. They would be more than happy to share.
With the WRO Internationals over, we are proud to say that we successfully represented Canada on the world stage. Like our students, we learned a lot from the competition, and now know what we need to teach our students to better prepare them for future competitions. We will be ready for the next WRO competition, and we hope you will be there alongside us, cheering on the students once more. Thank you for reading!
Just this past weekend, we had an incredibly important celebration for our national and international World Robotics Olympiad (WRO) competitors! Wanting to celebrate their achievements we had been hard at work setting up a small event for the kids this Saturday, with demonstrations, speeches, and of course, food. But behind the scenes, Jami had been toiling away on another secret project. Equipped with a silver tongue, she managed to invite and convince some of our local MPP’s to come down and show their support for our hard-working students as well! MPP’s Nina Tangri and Deepak Anand were more than delighted to make an appearance, and honour the competitors, even bringing special awards recognizing their triumphs.
Parents were the first to arrive, catching up with one another, as well as sharing their experiences of the national finals. The kids mingled among each other, either grabbing food, or checking up on their robots, fine tuning them before the MPPs arrivals. Not too long after, the ministers rolled in, and the teams were ready to show off all their hard work. The Future Innovators delivered their well-crafted presentation and demonstration of their robot to combat biofouling. The RoboMission team showed off their robots’ agility and precision by picking up, carrying, and carefully placing rings. In a new twist on RoboSports, the autonomous robots played against the MPPs who tossed the balls back as if they were a robot team.
The Future Innovators Team show off their robot to combat biofouling. MPP Nina Tangri asks questions about the project.
After the festivities, speeches were held by founder Satish, alongside the wonderful MPP’s. They congratulated the students and encouraged them to keep reaching for the stars, as who else but the next generation would be able to grasp them. Then each team was awarded a special certificate, recognition from the Government of Ontario for their accomplishments. Parents and coaches alike burst into applause as the teams received their awards, handed to them by both Nina Tangri and Deepak Anand. Finally, the teams going to Panama were presented with the Canada jerseys they will wear throughout the WRO competition, and they had a chance to pose with the Canadian flag.
The teams going to WRO Internationals pose with the coaches and MPPs Nina Tangri and Deepak Anand.
As the event came to a close, students went back to their parents, receiving smiles, hugs, and words of affirmation. It was a brilliant sendoff for our international competitors and a proud recognition of our national competitors after all their hard work.
Stay posted to our blog and social media for updates on the international teams as they travel to Panama in two weeks’ time. As we cheer on the international competitors, we are already gearing up for the FLL season and starting a new season of STRIPE Competition. Stay tuned for updates on both of those as well! Thank you for reading!
If you’ve been keeping up with our blog you might remember us previously mentioning that we were going to Panama for the World Robotic Olympiad (WRO) International. Two teams earned their spot through ingenious concepts, and hard work. If you haven’t read up on it, you can do so [here]. However, good things always come in 3s!
Just last weekend, in Kingston, Ontario, more of our teams battled for a spot in the WRO Internationals. The competition was not only fierce, but it was close. Two of our teams came close to victory that day with incredible performances that had people cheering. The first of the teams performed incredibly well, their robot avoiding obstacles and navigating on its own absurdly well. However, its competition was just as skillful, and both teams were neck and neck on the leaderboards. As a result, judges needed more time to review the performance of each robot and to double-check the tally of points to see who would come out on top. In the end, the judges gave their verdict, and our team came in second. A mere minor bump against an obstacle cost our team 2 points, and it was enough to drop us down to second place.
Team v^3, Future Engineers
While they won’t be going onto the WRO competition, they still came second overall, and performed exceptionally well at the event. They are proud of their hard work, as they put up such an impressive fight in the robotic ring. We too are proud of them and are eager to see their hard work pay off again next year. But they weren’t the only ones who were gunning for Panama.
Our other team also had a shot at the internationals, and they fought hard to try and get there. After performing very well in previous events, it came down to a tennis match to see who would go down to Panama in November. Their rival was another competent team, and had performed well so far, and so our team steeled itself for a hard fight.
The team preparing their bots for the tennis match
The first match was tight, with the tennis balls being slung back and forth at rapid pace. It looked like we would take the lead, but the other teams robots ensured that just wouldn’t happen. Slowly, but surely, they took the advantage and closed out the match in the lead. We had lost. But thankfully, that was only the first of 3 matches.
The second match began shortly after the first, and we were looking to avenge our previous loss. The balls went back and forth between the courts, but we gained the lead relatively quickly all things considered. The opposing team didn’t give up easily however, and we had to work to keep our advantage. But as the timer rang out, we firmly cemented our win, evening the scores between us and them.
It all came down to that 3rd and final match. Electricity was in the air as it began, both teams knowing what was on the line. The match was close. Everyone kept their eyes on the table, holding their breath and clenching their fists. As the balls flung, people started to lose count as to who was in the lead. We could have been leading. We could have been losing. But then, tragedy struck. As our robots flung the tennis balls, we noticed not as many were returning. One of the rival teams’ robots had gotten stuck. Squished between the wall, it lay motionless, unable, or unwilling, to fight any longer. As the buzzer rang out, we exploded in joyous celebration. We had won, securing our place in the internationals.
Ready to represent Canada in Panama!
Now, our teams gear and tool their robots to be ready for the big event. This November we will fight again, this time for Canada, as we once more try to secure first place in the WRO competitions. They will be flying out to Panama City in November, battling it out on the world stage between the 7th and the 9th. While tickets are unavailable, we will keep you informed on how the competition goes. We will see you again then!
Last month, Sunday June 4th, marked the WRO National Finals in which eleven Zebra Robotics teams fiercely competed using the knowledge and skills they acquired over the curriculum. This time and effort they put into learning and innovating paid off, as the teams collected six awards, including three first place positions, one second place position, and two third place positions. Of these award winners, two of the three first place positions are going to be representing Canada on the world stage, competing in the WRO International Finals in Panama against eighty plus countries!
But you might be wondering, what were the achievements that brought these Zebra students to the international stage?
The first team, who came in first place, was a high school team that focused on the issue of long-haul ocean freight ships. These massive cargo ships drive our supply industry, with many carrying 24,000 Twenty Foot Equivalent Units (TEU) worth of supplies across our vast oceans. They, however, face a major issue. As these ships have a decently long lifespan, many of them acquire lots of biomaterial on the underside of their hulls, things like algae, barnacles, tubeworms and more. This causes a whole host of issues and is referred to as biofouling in the industry. It is a problem that has plagued humanity since the dawn of sailing, but our bright minds came up with a solution.
The first place highschooler team posing for a photo op.
The high school team designed a robot that can climb onto the underside of the container ships while they are docked, and work to remove the biomaterial on the underside of the ships while they are being loaded. During the demonstration of the robot, the students showed how it could climb the hulls of these ships, at one point having their robot climbing an almost vertical surface. The judges were clearly impressed by their design work, as well as the impact that this type of robot could have. If the technology moves forward, it will help to solve biofouling, which can help make cargo ships 20% more fuel efficient, help curb invasive species spread, and help lower maintenance costs, among many other benefits.
But they aren’t the only innovators on the world stage. Also in first place, is a group of middle schoolers, all grade seven. They designed and built a robot to compete in the Robot Mission category. Through their hard work and dedication during their time at Zebra Robotics, they managed to design a robot with an edge over the competition in this head-to-head robot matchup, earning them a spot in the WRO International Finals. There in Panama, they will compete once more in the Robot Mission category.
Of the teams that competed in the WRO National Finals, many got close to moving onto the international finals. While they didn’t quite make it, it doesn’t mean their ideas aren’t valuable. This is especially true with one of our third place winners who worked to design a solution to growing energy needs in the tech industry.
Currently, as more and more of our world moves online, more and more server space is needed to run it. These servers are often stored in massive data centers, of which there are over five thousand worldwide! These centers are great for storing the information needed, and they are in one location to make maintenance easier. But one of the large issues with them is that they need constant cooling, to ensure that the centers do not overheat. This consumes a massive amount of energy and can become quite pricey depending on the cooling system used. So, if data centers were to become more prominent, and more affordable, the cooling system costs would need to come down somehow.
This is where our third place innovators came in to offer a solution. Liquid cooling is already more efficient and cost effective than other methods of cooling, but it can be further refined. The team designed a mutually beneficial system that worked to take the heat of the data centers and put it to use. The cold water, heated up by the data centers, can be pumped out to other areas where the heated water can be deployed for human use. Thus, helping to reduce total energy costs used by the company/building, while also being more eco-friendly.
The third place team posing with their certificate.
That about covers it for now. We will have more news in November, when our teams compete on the world stage in Panama! Keep an eye out on our socials, or sign up for our mailing list to be notified of current events.
