Making robots move

DOING ITS JOB—Andrew Bunij, 9, and Elyse Koe, 10, from the Camarillo Academy of Progressive Education’s “Groovin’ Lego Lords” robotics team, cheer on their Lego robot during the Pleasant Valley Education Foundation’s second annual Robotics Roundup tournament at the Camarillo Family YMCA on Nov. 7. Teams of students ages 9 to 14 throughout Camarillo and Southern California have been working since September building and programming Lego robots to perform transportation-related tasks during a timed round. Winning teams will compete against schools from other regions. Eventually, the top teams from throughout the U.S. will compete for a chance to win an international title in Denmark, where Legos were invented. Photos by IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers
ON THEIR WAY—Monte Vista Middle School’s robotics team “Mind Storm Masters” celebrates after being named the tournament’s overall winner. The middle school team includes Lexi Townley, cocaptain Ryan Smith, cocaptain Michael Mayper, Sam Falconer, Blake Ward, Shawn Cogan, coach Jennifer Mayper, project mentors Sue and Carl Melhorn and robot mentor Dave Smith. The team will participate in a qualifying competition at the Magic Mountain theme park in Valencia this Sunday.