Journal-News.com

HAMILTON — Twelve-year-old Zack Wells has his sites set on an engineering career. Joining the Ross Middle School robotics team seemed to be a helpful step in that direction, he said.

Wells and his Ross Middle School classmates have formed four teams focused on tackling a LEGO robotics challenge. Competitors are required to build and program a LEGO NXT robot to complete different tasks on a playing field. This year's theme is climate connection.

"Programming the robot has been sort of challenging," said Zack, a member of the Metal Chihuahuas. "But it is rewarding when you finish a program you've been working on for a very long time."

The team's robot can perform 11 tasks including testing levies, transporting an ice drill and raising a flood wall to prevent a flood on a playing field provided by FLL.

Fifth-grader Justin Macke and a friend created a program for one of the tasks, "which was the first mission that worked on the first try," he said.

Competitors also are required to do research projects about a climate problem in their community. The Metal Chihuahuas chose to research drought, especially foundation problems caused by drought.

The robot competition is the hook for the competition, said Jennifer Noxsel, a RMS speech pathologist and team mentor.

"But research is a huge part of the program," Noxsel said. "Each year teams are given a new real-world problem to solve."

After interviewing homeowners, a structural engineer and a soil conservationist, students developed a plan to help homeowners prevent foundation damage caused by drought.

Projects also use students' problem-solving skills, creative thinking, teamwork, competitive play, sportsmanship and emphasize building social communication skills, Noxsel said.

"This team has had fun learning and has developed confidence through their LEGO League experience."

Twenty-four teams from around the Cincinnati area are scheduled to compete in the FIRST LEGO League's competition at the Lakota East Freshman campus from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. The event is free and open to the public.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2158 or lebbing@coxohio.com.