Our LAE Robotics students - Robotics Creed - have once again shown their energy and enthusiasm competing as a rookie team at the FIRST Tech Challenge National Competition on 26 and 27 June, the world’s largest student robotics movement. As one of 64 teams from across the United Kingdom, they went head-to-head with their robots, presenting to industry judges as they competed to be crowned More Than Robots Champions. Year 12 student, Elya, reports below:

"The LAE Robotics Team had the pleasure to compete at the FTC National Competition held last Thursday and Friday for the first time as a rookie team. Over 60 skilled teams from all across the UK took part in the event, showcasing months of hard work, team work, and technical skills.

After winning the prestigious THINK Award at the regional First Tech Challenge, we began preparing for Nationals. One of the biggest challenges we faced was funding. A hurdle we encountered during the previous competition was efficient movement for our robot. To solve this, our engineering team proposed the idea of using a more advanced drivetrain that operates with Mecanum wheels, a wheel with rollers attached at its circumference at an angle of typically 45° that allow for omni-directional movement. Thanks to the incredible support from the school, and the generosity of everyone who contributed to the robotics bake sale, we were able to raise the money needed for the upgrade. This allowed us to implement a new movement strategy, which proved useful during the competition. 

The competition at Nationals was intense, with many highly skilled and experienced teams. As a result, we won one out of five matches, but the experience gained on the field was invaluable. Despite encountering several programming issues on the day, the resilience of our leader and vice-president, Sharaf and Elisa, helped us persevere and successfully execute a technical Level 2 ascent.

It’s been a huge achievement for us as a rookie team. We started from scattered components and little experience, to building a fully functioning robot and competing on a national stage. While we didn’t come home with an award, the progress we’ve made and everything we’ve learned has been just as meaningful. 

We’re incredibly proud of the team’s growth and hard work, and we’re excited to support next year’s Year 12 students as they take on the challenge and continue building on what we’ve started." 

Here is a detailed breakdown on how the LAE Robotics Creed did in the competition: 27902 UK 646 - London Academy of Excellence - Robotics Creed | FTCScout