Israeli teens take 2nd place at international high school robotics competition

view videoHigh school team from Binyamina, Israel takes 2nd place at the annual FIRST competition of 4,000 teams from 24 countries competing to assemble robots that complete set challenges.

By Ilan Gattegno

 

An Israeli high school team from Binyamina, near Haifa, came in second at the prestigious FIRST Robotics Competition in St. Louis, Missouri, held April 27-30.

The Binyamina team at the FIRST Robotics Competition

The final match was a showdown between the Orbit team of students from Binyamina’s Rothschild-Hashomron High School, and an American team. Although it ended in a 2:2 draw, the defending American champion came on top due to a technicality.

FIRST, which stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, brings together students from around the world for a sports-like tournament in which they pit their robots against one another in completing set tasks. The competition aims to turn students into the next generation of trailblazers, honing their technological and engineering skills and encouraging innovation, bolstering self-confidence, and improving communications skills and leadership qualities.

FIRST brings together more than 20,000 students in 4,000 groups from 24 countries in a series of challenges that change every year. Each group has six weeks to prepare for the big event by assembling a robot that meets the requirements.

Six Israeli teams participated in the competition although only two — the Binyamina team and BumbleB from Kfar Yona — managed to advanced to the knockout stage.

 

View original Israel Hayom publication at:
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=33441