Rotorua robotics students came out on top after the 2020 AquaBots National Competition held in Masterton last weekend.

Twenty-one students travelled to Masterton and Team Tahi, from Te Aka Mauri (TAM) Young Engineers Club, won the AquaBots college division.

Team Tahi included students Swian Lloyd-Jones (Year 8, Mokoia Intermediate) and Jurnee Leonard (Year 9, Western Heights High School).

Teams who placed first at the New Zealand national competition qualify for the International AquaBots Competition usually held in the USA in June.

At this time they are unsure what that competition will look like with Covid-19 travel restrictions in place.

It is under the dedicated leadership of Rotorua Museum Digital Technology Educator, Jessica Wilkes, that the Aquabot competition has seen a huge growth in interest for Rotorua students.

Jessica started Rotorua AquaBots only two years ago and this year Rotorua hosted the regional event of 49 teams (the largest regional event in New Zealand) and she accompanied the qualifying nine teams to Masterton.

AquaBots is an underwater robotics programme for school-aged children in New Zealand.

Teams are formed from Year 5 – 13 students and aim to inspire students and help discover the next generation of Kiwi scientists and engineers.

Rotorua regional teams attended 2020 AquaBots Nationals. Photo/Supplied

The national competition hosted 23 teams from Auckland, Rotorua, Masterton and Nelson.

'We only had three weeks to prepare for the tougher national event with many students away on camp or involved in other school events," Jessica says.

"The day before the competition was the first time they were able to practice the new challenges in the water with their AquaBots."

The 2020 AquaBot national challenges were not only different from the regional challenges but teams needed to adjust to how they functioned.

All of the national challenges required teams to share the robot driving equally, whereas during the regionals team members focussed on a specific task.

'On the day teams performed very well," Jessica says.

"There were tears and disappointment during challenges as things did not go as planned, but in the end there was triumph.

"All the teams should be very proud of their results."

The Rotorua AquaBots programme has received generous support from the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust and the Ministry of Business, Employment and Innovation.

2020 AquaBots National Competition Final Results:

College Division:

First: Team Tahi (TAM Young Engineers Club)

Third: Wai Wahine (Te Rangihakahaka)

Intermediate Division:

Second: Baffle Bot Broz (Galatea)

Primary Division:

Second: Te Waka Ora (St Mary's Catholic School)

Third: Soggy Potatoes (TAM Young Engineers Club)

Overall winners for individual challenges:

First in Seesaw: Team Tahi

First in Engine Reconstruction: Wai Wahine