Metal Chihuahuas Eat Up The Competition
February 9, 2010
What are Metal Chihuahuas? A better question is “Who are Metal Chihuahuas?”. The Metal Chihuahuas are a group of students at Ross Middle School, in Hamilton, Ohio. These amazing students have been participating in a state-wide competition called the Thunderhawk Regional First LEGO League.
Teams involved in this competition are judged on their robot design and programming, teamwork, and research project. These teams are also required to identify a transportation problem that impacts their community and develop an innovative solution for this problem. Teams likewise competed by performing missions with their robots on a playing field.
Some months ago, Pave Guard was contacted by the faculty sponsor for the Metal Chihuahuas. She explained that the team had decided to explore an environmentally-friendly technology for melting snow and ice on roads, as their research project. When they contacted the Ohio Department of Transportation for some information on such technology, they were referred to Pave Guard for information. This is how our fun and rewarding relationship with the Metal Chihuahuas began.
Over the last few months, Corey McDonald, the Pave Guard CEO, has sent information back and forth to the Metal Chihuahuas about the Pave Guard system so they can incorporate it into their research project. In an article about the Metal Chihuahuas and their overall competitive victories, appearing in the Dayton Daily News on December 8, 2009, someone who had attended the regional competition made these impressive remarks about the team’s efforts:
“I attended this amazing show of robotic talent. The Ross Teams showed what they were capable of, to the other participants. RMS is definitely on the FLL map now! A judge had told the LEGO Busters that their score of 345 out of 400 possible isn’t usually reached by any team until they have at least 4-5 years of experience with the robots. This was the first time such a feat had occurred with a team of only 2 years under their belt! AMAZING!!”
As a result of their regional victory, the Metal Chihuahuas have been invited to compete at the state-level competition. We know the team has done a great job in preparing their project and will do well at the state competition.
Great job Metal Chihuahuas!!! Pave Guard is proud of you.
Ross Middle School - "Metal Chihuahuas"
