Herndon girls’ robotics team qualifies for international competition
HERNDON, Va. (DC News Now) — A trio of Nysmith School elementary students in Herdon are headed to the VEX World Robotics Competition in Dallas in May after nabbing the Excellence Award at the Virginia championship competition.
Fourth graders Emily Amidon and Mia Friedman and third grader Mayling Ritter design, code and drive their robot along a course. Their interest in robotics, and ultimately their forming of their team the GemBots, was sparked by their older siblings’ participation in competitions.
‘Virginia will be for lovers’: Youngkin signs marriage equality bills into law
“It’s really fun. We get to work together and see what it’s like to have a team,” Amidon said.
It’s hard work, the trio explained.
“We make the base of the robot and build off of that,” Amidon said.
Ritter, the youngest of the teammates, said it’s exciting to see their robots execute their plans.
“It picks up green and purple blocks and knocks down the red and dumps all the things,” Ritter said. “It’s really cool.
The three have learned to play to one anothers’ strengths.
DMV creators brace for loss of community and income in face of potential TikTok ban
“Emily’s a really good coder, and me and Mayling are really good builders,” Freidman said.
As for the international competition, they’re unfazed, yet excited.
“I’m excited to meet people from different counties, and how they built their robots and we’ll spend more time with them,” Freidman said.
The VEX Worlds Robotics Competition begins May 2.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
