Each spring we offer a series of four FIRST LEGO League robot game competitions call the Spring Series. Teams earn ranking points at each event based on which position their robot finished in. After the fourth event, the ranking points will be added up and the team with the most points will be declared the Series Winner. Ten teams competed in the first event on February 15. The next event will be held on March 15. Congratulations to all of the teams. Official results and rankings can be found here.

Members of Banana Shark Builders used jigs to help launch their robot from the correct location.
Releasing the shark was a favorite mission by most teams.
Concentration was the key for the Best Bots, the team that lives up to their name.
Working together on exchanging attachments helped the Banana Shark Builders.
Generation Ocean teammates had lots of fun running their robot.
Members of Holy Cross School competed for their first time this season.
Holy LEGOs Batman members used complicated attachments to score more points than any other team.
Teamwork is the key to success.
Teams worked to collect game pieces and position them back on the field for maximum points.
Automous programs navagate the robots around the game field.
Switching out attachments allow Lightning Chickens to accomplish more missions.
Precision lineups help the Salty Vikings score points.
Spaghetti Shark members celebrate a successful run.

FTC Qualifying Tournament

On Saturday, February 8, we hosted at FIRST Tech Challenge Qualifying Tournament at Penn High School. 18 teams competed for the opportunity to advance the the Indiana State Championship that will be held in Indianapolis on March 8. Additional information about the State Championship can be found here.

Of the participating teams, three of the GEARS teams competed. FTC Team 18174 – MotoRoyal earned the Connect Award and advanced to State. FTC Team 14596 – XLR8 earned the Think award and had already advanced from a previous tournament. And our rookie sensations, FTC Team 26448 – Kill Switch earned Inspire Award 2nd Place, were part of the Finalist Alliance, and advanced to State. Our fourth team, FTC 12014 – Fire Wires volunteered to set-up the event and filled roles as referees and emcees. Fire Wires advanced through a previous tournament.

A full list of award allocations and advancements can be found here. Congratulations to all of the teams that competed and good luck to those that are headed to the State Championship!

MotoRoyals earned the Connect Award, securing their spot at the State Championship

Pixelated alumni Josh came back to help referee

Kill Switch won Inspire 2nd Place securing their spot at the State Championship

A big thank you to Penn High School for helping us host the event

XLR8 Scores in the high basket

XLR8 focused on the match

XLR8 wins the Think Award!

Kill Switch working hard in their match

XLR8 successfully executes a Level 3 Accent

First Lego League with Northern Indiana Robotics

Northern Indiana's Premier Robotics Community Center

First Tech Challenge with Northern Indiana Robotics

GEARS is a youth robotics center in northern Indiana focused on STEM education through the hosting of competitive robotics teams utilizing the FIRST program. We host students in grades 4 through 12 in FIRST Lego League and FIRST Tech Challenge programs. Students design, build, and program a robot to compete in a unique challenge each season. We have hosted thousands of students in the last eight years and look forward to hosting many more.