MSSD students compete in robot-building competition

By Susan Flanigan

published in On the Green on June 3, 2005

Happenings Archives

MSSD students Mike Jargalsaikhan (left) a sophomore, and Ando Ferguson, a freshman, display the robots they built for the Botball competition.

MSSD students Mike Jargalsaikhan and Ando Ferguson placed 12th out of 51 teams from 45 middle and high schools in the 2005 Greater D.C. Botball Robotics Tournament, held May 7 at the University of Maryland.

Botball (the name is derived from ‘robot’ and ‘ball’) is a hands-on learning experience that challenges students to make use of practical applications in science and math. Botball’s educational goals include technology awareness, engineering, C programming - one of the most popular computer languages used in science and business, Internet research, design skills, and creativity.

Each competing team receives a kit containing the same LEGO parts to build a robot, said MSSD science teacher Mark Tao. “The MSSD students did an excellent job this year,” said Tao. “Mike is a serious player who picks up materials and learns them quickly. Ando built his robot in just two weeks. Ever since he was a child, he has enjoyed building with LEGOS. They both thoroughly enjoyed this exciting tournament.”

The robots use no remote control. Instead, students learn C programming language to get the robots to perform tasks. A big part of the challenge is anticipating what the robot will encounter on the playing field - a 4 x 8-foot table - and building strategies into the program that will lead to a winning response.

Dr. David Snyder, a professor in the University’s Chemistry and Physics Department, developed activities with Tao that gave students the background skills they needed for the tournament. Students also got support from Dr. David Sullivan, an engineer at NASA. Although students design and program the robots themselves, adult mentors act as a resource and provide troubleshooting.

Botball is an educational outreach program presented by KISS Institute for Practical Robotics. MSSD’s Botball team received funding from the NASA District of the Columbia Space Grant Consortium. “We are very grateful for their support,” said Tao.

For further information about Botball, visit www.botball.org.

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