Every year towards the end of February, the VEX Robotics season in New Zealand wraps up with the National Championship. For the 2017-2018 season “In The Zone”, teams from across New Zealand traveled to Auckland to compete in the event, hosted at Pinehurst School.
Teams have spent the last 10 months refining machines able to collect small cones and build towers over a metre tall, on moveable bases. The robots have to be able to control themselves autonomously for the first fifteen seconds of the game, with the remainder of the two-minute games being remote control. Robots compete in two alliances, each consisting of two teams, so teamwork and strategy are critical elements of the game.
AURA provided the bulk of the volunteer force once again, for the three day event. Some of our members were involved months in advance with the planning of the event, and the general logistics. On the competition days, AURA personal were involved with the management of the event, as well as refereeing matches, ensuring teams were ready on time, scoring and resetting matches, and commentating.
We congratulate all teams on their progress throughout the season. Teams who won awards and qualify for the World Championships in April are:
Excellence Award:
2921S, Free Range Robotics
Tournament Champions:
2921S, Free Range Robotics
2941A, Otumoetai College
2900G, Onehunga High School
Tournament Finalists:
7682E, Wingus & Dingus
7682S, Wingus & Dingus
2900B, Onehunga High School
We wish these teams all the best of luck when they compete in Louisville, Kentucky in just a couple of months.
Some of our volunteers also won awards at this year’s National Championships. Nathan Allen, widely known as the developer behind VexDB, was awarded the Service Award. George Gillard, current Chairperson, was awarded both the Mentor of the Year and Volunteer of the Year awards.
AURA looks forward to an exciting 2018-2019 VEX season, with the next game unveiled at the World Championships in April. Unfortunately, AURA will not be competing at this year’s World Championships, largely due to the dates conflicting with university schedules.