ROLLA, Mo. – Missouri University of Science and Technology’s Combat Robotics Design Team recently earned second place at BotsKC, an industry-driven robotic fighting competition that was held in late April in Pleasant Valley, Missouri.
In addition to earning second place overall out of 26 teams, S&T’s team earned third in robot battles and first in engineering documentation. This was the team’s first-ever robot build and first year taking part in a competition – the team was formed in the spring of 2020.
S&T’s robot, named Ankle Grinder, competed in the 15lb division at BotsKC. During the competition, the S&T robot went through several rounds of fighting-style competitions against other teams’ robots.
The BotsKC competition paired Kansas City-area manufacturers and students to design, build and battle robots in gladiator-style contests while teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills and aiming to building a larger STEM workforce. For more information about the competition, visit botskc.org.
The Combat Robotics Design Team is one of the 19 student-run teams in Missouri S&T’s Student Design and Experiential Learning Center (SDELC). The SDELC, housed in the Kummer Student Design Center, provides teams with computer design laboratories, a manufacturing shop, office space and logistical support. Design teams mirror small start-up companies that plan large-scale projects, organize into departments, raise funds, communicate their ideas and solve open-ended design challenges. Almost every team competes annually at an event against other collegiate teams from around the country and the world. For more information about the teams, visit design.mst.edu.
The following S&T students are a part of the team:
Carthage, Brendan Duvall , freshman, engineering
