Students gathered at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre last week to battle it out to design and build working robots.

Now in its 23rd season, the FIRST Robotics Competition aims to inspire an appreciation of science and technology amongst students and their schools. This year, centred around the theme of STEAMWORKS, students used their strong problem-solving credentials to design a robot with an aim to build steam pressure, install gears and climb aboard an airship.

Director of FIRST Australia, Luan Heimlich, said the event is all about stimulating young minds to become the problem solvers of the future.

“FIRST is about cooperation, and equipping students with skills for the future which they will hopefully carry with them for the rest of their lives.”

Executive Dean of Macquarie University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering, Professor Barbara Messerle, said she is proud the University sponsors such an important event.

“As a University, we have a unique opportunity to show young minds how STEM contributes to our society, and the FIRST Robotics Competition allows their introduction to these disciplines to be positive, engaging and most importantly – fun.”

Teams 6523 (Condobolin High School), 1772 (Brazilian Trail Blazers) and 4613 (Barker Redbacks) were crowned the winners of the Southern Cross Regional, while teams 5648 (Melbourne RoboCats), 3132 (Thunder Down Under) and 4613 (Barker Redbacks) won the South Pacific Regional.

“Thanks to the involvement of major partners like Macquarie University, Google and Ford, students have continued access to their STEM interests through an entry program to university, or an internship or networking opportunity with many of our generous sponsors,” said Luan.

Check out some of the highlights below.

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