Students taking robot to new heights

Two high school students from Tauranga and their robot will be heading to the United States this weekend hoping to become world champions.

Dean Strydom of Otumoetai College and Bethlehem College's Jesse Gommans are members of the House of Science robotics team that won five awards at the VEX Robotics National Championships last month, and are going to the 2015 VEX Robotics World Championships.

The two boys, from Team 8757, won the Build award and were also division finalists and runners-up in robot skills.

"They've put in long hours in building their robot, Vertigo, and are really excited about going to the world champs," said House of Science director Chris Duggan.

"I think they stand a good chance, New Zealand teams have done very well in the competition in the past."

Last year, the robotics team from Otumoetai College made it to the final two in the international robotic challenge held in California.

The House of Science team will be one of about seven from New Zealand taking part in this year's competition, Ms Duggan said.

Nearly 800 teams that participated in over 400 VEX tournaments in cities around the world will be competing for the world title.

More than 70 teams from around New Zealand took part in the national championships in Manukau last month.

The team from Tauranga will be competing in "Skyrise" - played in a square field where two robotic alliances, comprising of two robots each, will play against each other.

"It really depends on the luck of the draw who your alliance teammates are," said Ms Duggan.

She described Strydom and Gommans as focused but introverted, and said they were not comfortable speaking to the media.

Ms Duggan said VEX robotics offered students a platform of learning about areas "rich with career opportunities" spanning science, technology, engineering and maths.