Baconton robotics team wins multiple awards at 5th annual Robot Drone League Competition

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Students from Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia competed to find innovative solutions to address global food scarcity at the recent fifth annual Robot Drone League Competition.

Participating teams from Baconton Community Charter School took home several awards at the competition, which saw students using BioBuilder technology, a synthetic MIT biology program, to address real-world agricultural challenges.

The competition, RDL SCARECROW, was hosted by East Tennessee State University in collaboration with STREAMWORKS, an educational program that offers project-based STEM programs.

Four teams competed as red or blue alliances on a 7-meter x 11-meter indoor field with simulated agricultural fields, water and power sources and a BioBuilder to facilitate the creation of synthetic biology.

The competition emphasized computer science programming. Students created algorithms and code for drone and robot operations.

The teams partnered with BioBuilder to combat crop infestations caused by fungi and insects that threaten agricultural crops on a global scale. Teams had to research and develop disease-resistant crop samples. Drones restored power lines, mapped lands and took water samples while robots handled crop harvesting, solar panel placement and waterline repair.

Georgia teams took home several awards, including:

Professors Award – Awarded to the team demonstrating the best of community outreach that helps to promote STEM learning in their community. The Professors Award honors the team that goes beyond technical expertise and embraces inspiration and collaboration and goes above and beyond in their community to promote STEM. This award recognizes the transformative power of community outreach, compassion and dedication. The Professors Award begins, where education meets the spirit of community.

Engineering Award: Blazer Bots White No. 202 – Middle School team, Baconton Community Charter School, Baconton  – The Engineering Award recognizes the team that showcases outstanding innovation and documented engineering practices. This award highlights the team’s ability to push boundaries, problem-solving, think creatively, and implement best engineering practices. The winning team provides compelling evidence of its design innovation and adherence to established engineering principles.

Autonomous “Top Dog” Award: Blazer Bots Blue Team No. 204 – Middle School team, Baconton Community Charter School, Baconton – Awarded to the team demonstrating the highest competition autonomous scores. The Autonomous “Top Dog” Award recognizes the team that has demonstrated the highest competition autonomous scores. Determination, and a drive to push the boundaries of possibility, were showcases of their unrivaled expertise. They have conquered challenges, overcome obstacles, and paved the way for a future where autonomous become the norm.

Showcase Award: Blazer Bots White No. 202 — Middle School team, Baconton Community Charter School, Baconton – Awarded to the team demonstrating the best video that encompasses all of the values of a RDL team. At the head judge’s discretion, volunteer judges may elect to award 2nd- and 3rd-place submissions or any honorable mentions.

Top Score Award: BluTech Robotics No. 107 High School team, Baconton Community Charter School, Baconton – Awarded to the teams based solely on scores finalized at the end of challenge field play.

Champions Award: Blazer Bots Blue Team No. 204 – Middle School team, Baconton Community Charter School, Baconton – Awarded to the top team that encompasses the overall best in competition, both on and off the challenge field. The following factors are taken into consideration for this prestigious award:

— Challenge field scores

— Team showcase presentation

— Community outreach

— Tournament professionalism

— Collaborative spirit.

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