Ayb robotics team returns home with bronze medal

YEREVAN, April 13. /ARKA/. For the second year in a row, Ayb School’s robotics team showed its worth and stood out at one of the most popular robotics competitions in the world, the National Robotics Challenge (NRC), by winning a bronze medal in the Combat Robot nomination. The competition was held in Marion, Ohio, USA, Ayb School said in a press release.

‘This is an outstanding achievement for not only Ayb School but also Armenia, as our country has been once again honorably represented on the international educational arena. Over 1,300 participants and 400 robots took part and competed in the NRC 2017.  It should be noted that last year Ayb School’s robotics team took part in the challenge with their Sumo Robot that ensured them a silver medal as well as the Honda Innovation Award,’ it said. 

This year, Ayb students competed in the Combat Robot nomination. Their combat robot challenged robots from other high schools and colleges for two days in a row. 

“We had built a robot that had one main task – to destroy the rival. Some of our rival-robots were easily neutralized; however, it turned out that the points were being given for the number of strikes and not for the neutralization. And that is why we didn’t win a silver or a gold," said Areg Karapetyan, member of Ayb robotics team.

"Compared with last year, the participating teams and their robots were more prepared for the challenge," said Simon Zohrabyan, the team captain.

According to Ayb robotics team member Felix Ghandilyan, the Armenian team received quite a warm welcome and treatment during their stay in Marion. «Local media were largely covering our participation in the NRC 2017. Everybody was amazed by the Armenian team’s resolution to cross the ocean to participate in this famous U.S. competition.  We were met at the airport. A U.S. family helped us a lot with transportation. Besides, they invited us to attend a Mass in a church in Marion. We were also invited to their family dinner," he said adding that in all likelihood, the same family will host the Ayb robotics team next year.

We sincerely congratulate our team on this amazing victory and want to extend our gratitude to Vazgen Gabrielyan, the team coach. Congratulations to our students – Simon Zohrabyan, Areg Qalantaryan, Areg Karapetyan., Felix Ghandilyan, Armen Barseghyan and Arman Mnatsakanyan. 

Ayb’s robotics team has been up and running since 2011. Our team has recorded victories in several competitions, both in Armenia and abroad. During the 2012 ArmRobotics open competition two out of three Ayb School teams took both 1st and 2nd place awards with their line tracking robot, and in 2014, during the same competition Ayb robotics team won first place. In 2013, during the Fireman Robot international competition at Trinity College (Connecticut, USA), Ayb School’s “AybStorm” robot was recognized as the best for theoretical solutions for electronics, among 130 teams from 7 countries. Ayb’s two teams were also successful during Sochi’s World Robot Olympiad in 2014.

The National Robotics Challenge competition first took place in 1986 and is considered to be the longest continually operating world robotics competition. It is made up of 12 categories: Sumo Robot, Mini-Sumo Robot, Rescuing Robot, Hockey Robot, Maze Robot, etc. The competition is open to individuals or teams of elementary, middle, high schools and colleges. Honda Company is the main sponsor of the competition. -0-

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18:23 04/13/2017