AHS to host VEX Robotics Tournament

February 15, 2019 | 9:53 am

Updated February 16, 2019 | 9:28 am

Students working for this weekend's competition. | Photo submitted

Apollo High School will host its second annual VEX Robotics Tournament from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16. Participating schools include Apollo High School, Daviess County High School, Owensboro Innovation Academy, Ohio County High School, Christian County Gateway Academy, Trinity High School, Elkhorn Crossing High School, Central Hardin High School and others.

The competition will feature the construction and programming of robots that collect and shoot hard plastic balls and lift and flip multi-colored caps. The highlight of this year’s tournament is a new “King of the Hill” event, which promises to generate excitement at the conclusion of each match as robots push, pull and flip one another off a platform in the center of the field.

Throughout the competition, teams of students will not only compete in matches on the gymnasium floor, but will also compete in interviews and with engineering journals as they present their robots, describe how they were designed, and explain the process in which the students built and programmed their robots.

Jonathan Leohr, head coach of the Apollo High School Robotics team, said, “This year, in particular, has been very challenging for us as we are adjusting to a new format for elimination rounds and the introduction of the newly revised V5 cortex system. In the past, elimination rounds have always been rounds where teams competed in a ‘best two out of three’ format, but now it’s single elimination so any small issue can have catastrophic effects for a team during elimination rounds.”

Students who participate in these competitions learn valuable problem-solving skills, experience the engineering design process, and master the art of an interview. All of these skills help prepare students for college and careers after high school.

The Eagle Nation Challenge, directed by AHS teachers Jonathan Leohr and Steven May is proudly sponsored by the B.J. Killian Foundation, Southern Star, IMI Construction and the Barron family.

February 15, 2019 | 9:53 am

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