For the third consecutive year, Leander ISD robotics teams dominated at the UIL Robotics State Championships. Vandegrift High School’s 7161 ViperBots Hydra and Vista Ridge High School’s 7797 Victorian Voltage (in alliance with Westlake High School’s 9048 Philobots) emerged victorious, winning the state championship in the FIRST Tech Challenge 5A-6A Division.
This year’s challenge took FTC teams on an exploratory mission of uncharted planets, and FIRST Robotics Challenge (FRC) teams ventured into deep space. Competing alliances tackled a series of challenges that put their STEM, collaboration and problem-solving skills to the test.
In addition to being part of the state championship alliance, Viperbots Hydra won the Robot Innovation Award, while over in FRC, the Viperbots Valor team was recognized with the Entrepreneurship Award and was also part of the eight-place alliance. Rouse High School’s R-Cubed won the State Creativity Award.
There is more to come for LISD robotics teams as several groups have qualified to compete in the FIRST World Championships to be held in Houston, Texas, April 17-20.
Advancing to World in the FTC level of competition are Viperbots Hydra, ViperBots QuadX, and Viperbots Ouroboros. Three teams will also continue to World in the FRC level of competition – Viperbots Valor, Cedarpark Robolobos, Rouse R-Cubed.
