By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
AS robotics teacher Nick Pryor puts it, Berwick Lodge Primary School’s world-beating kids could be anything.
Fresh from taking out an international First Lego League robotics title in Sydney on 6 July, the eight-child team Trashformers were welcomed like heroes as they returned with their Lego-brick trophy.
Berwick Lodge current students Samudra and Kyra, with former students and Casey teens Kav, Zoe, Eric, Lincoln, Leo and Kyle, were up against 39 teams from 21 countries in the robot performance section at the Asia-Pacific championships.
Contenders came as far afield as Brazil, USA, Canada, Turkey, Republic of Korea, Taiwan and Japan.
Some teams were older, and some had mighty support from major engineering corporations or universities.
All were invited to the championships for being the best in their countries.
“These guys in our team are the cream of the crop,” Mr Pryor said. “Sometimes they just leave me behind.
“This is a big deal. I wasn’t sure of coming first place, but I was hoping for top 10.”
Berwick Lodge principal Henry Grossek said the meet wasn’t all about friendly competition.
There was a fun spirit of cultural and scientific exchange, including a light-hearted opening ceremony at Sydney Opera House, conga dancing, singing and sharing food.
It’s a whole lot more than just Lego:
Participants were told they were the world’s future scientific leaders meeting the most pressing challenges, Mr Grossek said.
“Robotics is the essence of great learning experiences – looking at a scientific problem, getting a sense of teamwork and respect for each other.”
The Trashformers with their swift-moving Lego robots Optimus Grime and Megaton and volunteers and teachers were up for a waste-sorting challenge that was extraordinarily challenging.
Keeping in tune with the waste-management theme – and the tune of Transformers – the team’s slogan was ‘Trashformers: plastics in demise’.
Each team’s robots had to complete six missions on a 3.75 square-metre board in just two-and-a-half minutes.
The robots demolished a block building, and picked up, sorted and transported objects, all while whirring up and down the board with surprising agility.
At the same time, the students were like a pit-crew – efficiently changing the attachments of the robots for each mission.
The robots operate on mix of student-designed coding, and light and visual sensors. No remote-controls were allowed.
After hours of design and training, the team was refining up to the last minute.
During the competition’s second run, its robot dropped its plastic bag. This aberration was corrected in the hotel room before the perfect third attempt.
The Trashformers had gained a vital edge by designing two clever components – a conveyor belt and an elevator – that saved more than 20 seconds.
Schools were also judged on their knowledge, their independence from coaching, and their “gracious professionalism” – including their willingness to share ideas and talk with other teams.
The week was further vindication for Berwick Lodge’s trail-blazing Prep-6 robotics program that began six years ago.
In 2014, the school won a national title partnered with fellow eastern Melbourne school Glendal Primary School. Both schools represented Australia in Pamplona, Spain as a result.
The schools’ joint innovation to detect internal combustion hidden in trees during bushfires was featured on ABC TV at the time.
“The kids are all digital natives these days,” Mr Pryor said. “They take to it like ducks to water.
“It’s easy to teach because the kids love it so much.”
The Trashformers were assisted by technical coach Dan Sriratatana, former Berwick Lodge teacher Traceye Rapinett and staff Alvina Seow, Mr Pryor and Mr Grossek.
