International Robotics Competition Held at U of A

A student team member from Indiana works on the assembly of their team’s pit display in the Verizon Ballroom.

A team from Ontario, Canada, tests their robot on the practice tables in the Anne Kittrell Art Gallery.

All 80 teams were recognized during opening ceremonies in the Chi Omega Greek Theatre.

This student from Ohio described his team’s robot design process during an interview with judges in the Arkansas Union.

A student from South Carolina watches their team’s robot navigate the playing field on one of the competition tables in the International Connections Lounge.

Two students from New Jersey show off their other skills at a talent show in the HPER Building.

These students from Israel share their innovative project with judges during a callback interview in the Arkansas Union.

Students from New York prepare their team’s robot for a match on one of the competition tables in the International Connections Lounge.

These coaches from Arkansas and Japan show off the flags that their teams’ exchanged during the competition.

The team from Spain celebrates receiving the top award during the closing ceremonies in the Chi Omega Greek Theatre.

The First-Year Engineering Program at the U of A played host again this year to the FIRST LEGO League Razorback Open Invitational May 19-22. The event was held annually from 2015-2019, then canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

FIRST LEGO League introduces science, technology, engineering and math — the STEM fields — to students through fun, exciting, hands-on learning. Participants gain real-world problem-solving experience through a guided, global robotics program, helping students and teachers build a better future together.

The 2022 Invitational brought together students from seven countries and 29 states over the four-day competition. Opening ceremonies were hosted at the Chi Omega Greek Theater on Thursday evening.

Robot matches and judging were held in the Arkansas Union, with teams competing throughout the day on Friday and Saturday.

Friday evening featured a carnival and talent show at the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building for the participants to show off other skills and have some great fun and laughter.

More than half of the teams participating were housed on campus at Maple Hill. The event would not have been possible without the volunteer support from dozens from the university community, local robotics teams and FIRST LEGO League leaders from around the United States.

Sunday morning featured the closing ceremonies and award distribution at the Greek Theater.

First-place awards

• Robot Alliance Challenge
  Oak Ridge Lego Blasters of Marion, Iowa, and
  FSINGENIUM Team from Navarra, Spain.
• Pit Design Award
  Sharon Tiger Techs Team Black of Sharon, Pennsylvania, and
  DAB Robotics from Brooklyn, New York.
• Robot Performance
  No Wheelers of Cary, North Carolina.
• Core Values
  Sharon Tiger Techs Team Black of Sharon, Pennsylvania.
• Robot Design
  SportSTEAM from Wexford, Pennsylvania.
• Innovative Project
  CRE8 of Mason, Ohio.
• Champion's Award
  FSINGENIUM Team from Navarra, Spain.
• Mentor Hall of Fame
  • Jaidyn Oresti — LEGO Legends Oakville Ontario, Canada
  • Christopher Zhang — Techies Charlotte, North Carolina
  • Eric Lorenzen — Space Ninjas Bush, Louisiana
  • Pallavi Sher — CRE8 Mason, Ohio
  • Dave Tomko — Sharon Tiger Techs Team Black Sharon, Pennsylvania
  • Aviela Sherbu-Cohen — D++ Tel Aviv, Yafo Israel

All awards and other information can be found at the FIRST LEGO League Razorback Open Invitational website.