The event saw 18 teams from 9 different schools compete in game-based engineering challenges with robots they had designed and built using the popular educational VEX programming system.
Students Charlie, Oscar, Eddy and James made up team ‘IC Vexy’s’, which collected Skills Champion, Excellence, and Teamwork Champion Awards on its way to a significant lead and champion status.
Their success extends beyond the competition, with the team ranked third nationally and 27th internationally.
The College’s second team, IC Circuit Breakers, represented by students Ben, Seb and Hamish, also earned the Create Award for their robot’s innovative engineering solution.
The extra-curricular activity of robotics allows students to apply their learning in STEM subjects while developing problem solving and collaboration skills, says College Principal Mr John Robinson.
“These results are a reflection of the hard work and passion that students bring to our robotics program here at Investigator College,” Mr Robinson says.
“They are also a natural extension of our high-achieving mathematics and science departments.
“Opportunities abound for the next generation to embrace technology and make the world a better place. We are pleased to be preparing our passionate students to make a difference.”
Construction of Investigator College’s Innovation Centre is set to commence in late 2024, with the centrepiece building to feature robotics studios – allowing students to delve even deeper into this growing field.
In the meantime, both Investigator College teams have qualified for the State Championships being held at Uni SA Mawson Lakes on 28 October.
If they succeed there, they may progress to Nationals in Sydney in December – where they would contest for an invitation to the World Championships in Dallas, Texas.