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If the smiles and loud voices of the 16 third- through fifth-graders are any indication, the inaugural sumo robotics class through Luverne Community Education is a hit.
The students were charged with making a robot out of discarded cardboard and packaging materials.
The simple “bot” used a battery pack and four wheels as propulsion.
High school robotics team coach Aaron Perkins hosted the class as an introduction into Luverne School District’s robotics program.
“It’s meant to get them excited,” he said. “And have fun.”
Perkins was assisted by high school robotics team members Zoey Berghorst, Reese Louwagie and Lola Peterson.
The 16 students were divided into four teams, each constructing a robot.
The finished bots then went head-to-head to see which bot could push the other out of the taped arena in the school’s hallway.
The four bots were named Battering Ram, Wall-y, Fred the Murder Bot and Murder. Fred, while not the best-constructed robot, won due to his ability to move in a circle.
Perkins said the one-time classes offered through community education are meant to bring attention to the district’s involvement in the First LEGO league and advancement to the levels of the First Tech Challenge and First Robotics Competition as middle and high school students.