First Lego League Team NXT Alliance members Carlos Ander, 15, Benj Donne-Lee, 13, coach Stephen Lee, Isaac Donne-Lee, 12, and Bjorn Ander, 13, at the FLL Championships in Auckland. Photo/Supplied
First Lego League Team NXT Alliance members Carlos Ander, 15, Benj Donne-Lee, 13, coach Stephen Lee, Isaac Donne-Lee, 12, and Bjorn Ander, 13, at the FLL Championships in Auckland. Photo/Supplied
Wanganui's team of robot-building problem solvers have just returned from the First Lego League Championships in Auckland with a creditable fifth placing.
A total of 28 teams from around New Zealand gathered on November 30 to compete for trophies and medals as the culmination of 10 weeks of hard workdesigning, building and testing their Lego robots.
As the first - and only - team from the Wanganui area to compete in First Lego League, the home-educated FLL Team NXT Alliance were not sure what to expect or how they might compare to other teams, some of which have been competing in the challenge since it began in New Zealand four years ago.
The team members said they were pleasantly surprised to come away with fifth place overall in the robot game despite some limitations due to a lack of spare parts.
The Ash Alert! app designed by the team compared favourably with solutions designed by other teams and gained the team a trophy for best research.
The team members said they could not have participated in FLL "had it not been for the fantastic support" received from sponsors and donors. Thanks to Hamish Mackay of Craigs Investment Partners, Saul Maintenance and Construction, Hayden Laing of Mt View Screenprints, Steve Meade of Splatterzone Paintball, Johan Ander, David Coleman of David Coleman Furniture, Mr & Mrs Walker (Walkertrust), the Coe family, Pak'N'Save and all who donated money or bought chocolate.
Fundraising will continue until all the chocolate is sold. The team members said they had returned eager to share their experiences" via their website www.fllwanganui.wordpress.com
