Robotics team represents Bloomington on world stage

Bloomington’s Team BJORG, the high school robotics team, represented BPS on an international stage at the FIRST Robotics world championships in Houston, TX, April 16-19. More than 600 teams from nearly 20 countries competed and learned about STEM careers and technology at the tournament.

As shown in this animated video, Bloomington’s robot had to complete multiple tasks in its specific division, including removing yoga balls from a stand and throwing them onto an elevated trough, placing PVC pipe as high as possible on the stand, and hanging from cages suspended from the ceiling. While the team didn’t receive an award, their scores improved considerably throughout the tournament.

Team members also had the opportunity to hear from educational and industry leaders. Students learned about 3D printing, data logging, leadership, job interviewing, and STEM careers, while also exploring the latest technological advancements and learning how companies shape the world they live in.

The team qualified for the world championships at a regional tournament at the University of Minnesota, where they won the Engineering Inspiration Award for advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within their school community. 

Team BJORG, which stands for Bloomington Joint Outstanding Robotics Group, consists of students from Jefferson and Kennedy high schools.