The first-ever South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) Robotics Competition took place May 13 at Pinewood Preparatory School.

Ten Lower and Middle School teams from across the state competed in the inaugural event. The idea for a private school competition was introduced by Pinewoods Idea Lab (design thinking and engineering) faculty members in conjunction with SCISA, and was planned by a committee of parent volunteers, faculty, and staff.

Teams were judged on their robotics skills in three different stages: a "Meet the Team" interview room in which members explained their role on the team and why they joined robotics, a "Robot Design and Programming" room where members detailed the programming process and design engineering steps needed to create a robot, and a table competition to showcase the tasks their robot can perform, based on the theme of "Mars Robotics."

The judging panel was comprised of volunteers from local cybersecurity, aeronautics, and other technology-based businesses and organizations.

Pinewoods two Lower School teams (Roar-Bots 4 and 5) competed, as did one Middle School team. High School Robotics Coach Jim Brice demonstrated the robot created by Pinewoods High School Robotics program.

Spartanburg Christian Academy received the overall Champion Award for the competition.

All three participating teams from Pinewood received divisional awards. Roar-Bots 4 placed third in Robot Table Games and Meet Our Team, and second in Robot Design and Programming. Roar-Bots 5 placed third in Robot Design and Programming, second in Meet Our Team, and first in Robot Table Games. The Middle School Panthers placed second in Robot Table Games and first in Robot Design and Programming.

The committee behind the 2017 competition hopes to see the event continue and expand in years to come.

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Pinewood hosts inaugural SCISA Robotics Competition - Journalscene.com