Sudbury high school robotics team eyes World Championships

For the fourth year in a row, Lo-Ellen Robotics 4069is vying for a spot atthe robotics world championship in St. Louis, Mo.

The team was established just four years ago, buthas clinched a spot at the top competition every year since even securing the Rookie All-Star Award in 2012 and a gold medal in 2013.

This week, the Lo-Ellen teamjoin hundreds of other tech-savvy teenagers atNipissingUniversity in North Bay for the second annual North Bay FIRST Robotics Competition.

ConnorGran is one of two remote-control drivers on the teamwho control the movement of Lo-Ellen'srobot in competition.

He said this year's robot hasto stack shipping totes six feet high, with bonus points for placing a garbage bin on top.

Gran said the challenge of designing and building such a machine is a thrill.

"I've always been really into robotics and computers, and this is really the only thing that I've sort of found so far that sort of plays to those interests," he said.

"You know, there's all sorts of sports teams, and other things like that ... [but robotics] has that real world application that I really wanted ... I want to go into engineering next year because of this."

The second annual North Bay FIRST Robotics Competition Regional will be held at Nipissing University fromThursday, March 26through Saturday, March 28. Members of the public are welcome.