For the first time this year, Hungary hosted the local rounds of the FIRST LEGO League competition, a joint initiative by FIRST, one of the world’s largest robotics communities, and leading global building toy manufacturer LEGO. The more than 90 teams registered for the competition from Hungarian schools participated in five regional qualifiers. The national finals held in Budapest featured teams from six counties and three teams from Budapest.
The first place went to the Storms team from Andretti Károly Primary School of Sóskút made up mostly from girls. This team was the winner of regional finals in Győr and they were granted also special awards for the “Best Robot Construction” and the “Best Robot Run.” The runner up was the RoboGo 5vos team from Eötvös József Secondary School of Tata, winner of the “Best Core Values (Team Spirit)” special award. The third place went to the Mobilis Bits MRGT team of Mobilis Interactive Exhibition Center of Győr.
The “Telenor HiperSuli Breakthrough” special award was granted to the Blokkolók team of the First Budensis German Language Teaching Minority Primary School of Budapest. The “Best Innovation” award went to the Sapka team (Kempelen Farkas Secondary School, Budapest), the “Motivation” award was granted to the EPYCTMteam (Nagykőrösi II. Rákóczi Ferenc Primary School), while the “Emerging” special award was won by the Izidumbu team (Alternative Secondary School of Economics, Budapest). The jury awarded the “Best Coach” award to Illés Kökényesi.
Secret formula of the winning team
The winning team is comprised of two families including Eszter (14) and Eliza (12) Wilson, as well as Levi (9), Verus (11), Bogi (13) and Csabi (15) Molnár. This was their first time in the FIRST LEGO League competition, but had good results in several other Hungarian and international robot building competitions before. In the national finals, they delivered a balanced performance finishing in the top three in each evaluated category (Robot Run, Core Values, Innovation and Robot Design).
“We were very happy to win in the regional finals but it was a real surprise for us to earn a combined first place with our project also in the national finals, as it was our first time in the competition”, said the members of the Storms team. “Our team had great collaboration with some members focusing on the innovation project, others on robot programming or devising the opening and closing mechanisms of our model. We also received encouraging feedback during the competition. We look forward to the global finals.” The good result confirmed Csabi’s and Verus’ ambitions to pursue a career in robotics. Eliza wants to be doctor – but automation and telemedicine are expected to gain more space over time also in medicine.
Next step: the global finals in Greece
Although, the initial plan was to delegate only the top three teams to the international finals, the organisers of FIRST LEGO League offered Hungary the option to send two more teams to Greece. As a result, the Izidumbu team of the Alternative Secondary School of Economics (AKG) of Budapest and the Agora Robotics team of Agora Scientific Experience Center of Debrecen finishing on the fourth and shared fifth place respectively will also participate in the global finals.
“All teams of Hungary’s most colourful FIRST LEGO League competition performed at a high level. Special thanks go to the teachers who didn’t spare time and effort to prepare their students during this challenging school year. We are also grateful to the jury whose volunteer contribution was essential for the completion of all rounds. Robotics provides students with knowledge and experience that fit well with traditional school subjects. I’m very pleased that robotics and algorithmic thinking, as well project-based, playful education methodology were added to HiperSuli’s program this year”, said Balázs Koren teacher of maths, digital education expert and head of Telenor’s HiperSuli program.
The main sponsor of the Hungarian rounds of the robot-building and problem-solving competition is Telenor Hungary, while its professional partner is Telenor’s HiperSuli digital education programme. Six teams of four schools participating in the HiperSuli program are enrolled in the competition including the EPYCTM team of Nagykőrösi II. Rákóczi Ferenc Primary School that comfortably won the regional finals in Zalaegerszeg and was granted the “Motivation” special award at the national finals.
To watch the summary video prepared about the competition with the involvement of the EPYCTM team of Nagykőrösi II. Rákóczi Ferenc Primary School please click here. The short video spots prepared during the FLL are available on the YouTube channel of the HiperSuli program.
About FIRST
FIRST® is a robotics community that prepares young people for the challenges of the coming decades through a suite of team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18 that can be facilitated in school or in structured afterschool programs. Being a leading global international non-profit educational organisation focused on science, engineering, technology and maths, FIRST runs programs combining experience-based education with team sports. Every year, there are more than 450,000 children joining First LEGO League competitions organized by FIRST and LEGO® in 110 countries worldwide. Learn more about the Hungarian competition at https://www.firstlegoleague.hu/