BRANCHBURG – For members of Storming Robots, venturing outside of their comfort zone is key.
The strategy has paid off, with high school students based out of the Storming Robots Technology Learning Lab on Route 22 recently winning two world titles at this year’s International RoboCup Junior (RCJ) competition.
The annual competition, held from July 17-20 at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, brought together 300 teams and 2,000 participants from 35 countries to venture into an AI world where robots are no longer a futuristic fantasy but a living reality.
RCJ stands out among pre-college robotics competitions, says Elizabeth Mabry, founder and president of Storming Robots. Held in conjunction with RoboCup, RCJ events allow students to meet researchers and be inspired by exhibits and competition submissions from some of the world’s top robotics experts.
All challenges require 100 percent automation, and RCJ encourages student innovation by pitting them against real-world problems in robotics and AI, Mabry said.
“These young people demonstrated extraordinary problem-solving and technical skills well beyond their years,” Mabry said. “Their experience at RCJ has not only honed their technical and collaborative skills, but has also inspired them for future careers in engineering and technology.”
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Founded in 2004, Storming Robots is a year-round robotics technology and advanced computer science learning center that provides robotics and computer science education to students in grades 5 through 12. Mabry said the goal is to develop a generation of analytically and computationally minded people who pursue self-improvement every day.
At RCJ, Team New AJE was made up of 10th graders Etaash Mathamsetty, Venkata Jain and Jiachen Jiang, and 11th grader Andrew Dai. The trio won first place in the software algorithm-heavy Robotics Rescue Simulation League, which tests competitors’ algorithm development and virtual navigation abilities.
Team JAM Sessions, an all-girls team consisting of 10th grader Aditi Gopalakrishnan and 9th graders Julia Chan and Maya Baireddy, won second place in the OnStage (STEAM initiative) Robotics League. Their project combined technology and art by developing a system that interprets American Sign Language (ASL) into music played on a piano through machine learning and robotics.
“I was able to test my skills,” Chan said, “and reach a level I never thought I could reach.”
For more information on Storming Robots programs and classes, visit stormingrobots.com. To learn more about RCJ and participating in Storming Robot competitions, visit rcj.stormingrobots.com.
Email: cmakin@gannettnj.com
Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact her at Cmakin@gannettnj.com or Cheryl MakinFor unlimited access, subscribe or activate your digital account today.
