Robocup 2015 - Brooke Mitchell

By Sara Quelch | Posted: Thursday June 25, 2015

On Saturday 20th June the Otago Robocup Junior competition was held in Dunedin.

107 nervous entrants gathered to test their skills competing for placings in three events; Robot Soccer, Robot Search & Rescue, and Robot Theatre.

Balmacewen Intermediate had two entries in Search and Rescue and one in Theatre. After 4 exciting rounds of Junior Search and Rescue competing in a field of 10 teams, Balmac Flash (built and programmed by Brooke Mitchell and CJ Barnes, operated on the day by Brooke) was tied in first place, resulting in another round to determine the winner.

After a quick programming change, living up to his name Balmac Flash rose to the challenge with a speedy flawless circuit and a 40 second lead heading to the finish line, unfortunately there was a dramatic turn of events as a cord came loose causing a malfunction resulting in a restart from the start of the circuit and therefore taking second place in the Junior Search and Rescue.