Flat Rock Middle’s Robotics Team Finishes Third in State FLL Championship

Sometimes not hearing your team’s number called as the winner is a good thing.

Members of Flat Rock Middle’s Team ROC (Robotic Over Complicators) was hoping, but not hoping, that they would hear their number called early on at the Georgia Tech FIRST LEGO League (FLL) competition. You see, if a team wins one of the first nine awards in the categories of project, robot design or core values it cannot be considered for one of three championship awards.

ROC was not a winner in the first round of awards, but that all changed when the announcement was made that they had earned a third place Champion’s Award, placing third in the state overall. Team members are Devon Nandial, Gavin McClure, Laura Ann Lawton, Jack Jung, Madison Lohr, Lincoln Thompson and Alex Arnsdorff.

“We exhaled, cringed and even fretted when we didn’t hear our team number for the first nine awards. It’s then that you realize you’re either going to win big or win nothing,” says the team’s coach Melissa Lohr.

This is the second consecutive year that a Flat Rock FLL team has been a top three state winner. This year’s win was even more meaningful than the last. Having to compete during a pandemic meant extra work and reinventing how the team prepared and practiced.

“We were Zooming, working around hybrid schedules, filming infomercials, filming robot runs, and submitting way more documentation than ever. I am super proud of my kids, they have earned this year’s victory,” says Lohr.

Each year FLL teams are tasked with solving a problem that will make people’s lives better. This year they were asked to solve the problem of inactive lifestyles.

Team R.O.C. determined that more people might embrace working out if they could do it in the privacy and safety of their homes, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on causing some people to avoid going to gyms. However, the problem with working out at home is lack of space.

So, enter the Flex Bed, it’s a bed and gym all in one. To work out, simply lift the end of the bed up, lock it in its upright position, and utilize the gym equipment underneath that provides a full body, balanced workout complete with flexibility, aerobic and strength exercises. When done, flip it back down and take advantage of its other use, sleeping.