A team of students from Abbey Park School has made waves in the world of robotics by reaching the semi-finals of the prestigious First Lego League (FLL) Challenge.
The competition, held in Bristol last month, saw the students narrowly miss out on a place in the grand final after showcasing their innovative Lego-built robot, Gilbert.
The First Lego League is a global initiative that inspires young minds to develop their critical thinking, coding, and design skills through practical science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities. This year’s theme, Submerged: An Underwater Robotics Challenge, required teams to build and program robots capable of tackling complex underwater-themed tasks.
Starting the challenge last September, the Abbey Park students worked tirelessly to bring their robotic vision to life. Gilbert, their custom-built Lego robot, was programmed to complete a series of intricate missions within a two-and-a-half-minute timeframe. Each mission was designed to simulate real-world challenges faced in marine exploration and conservation.
Among the tasks Gilbert tackled were:
- Transporting coral structures to safe zones
- Guiding an angler fish to its home in a shipwreck
- Retrieving a treasure chest from the ocean floor
- Using sonar technology to scan for marine life
- Adjusting cargo routes to protect migrating whales
- Collecting samples and artefacts for scientific study
With each successful task, the team accumulated points, competing against other schools in a test of skill, strategy, and precision.
Despite falling just short of a place in the final, the students were proud of their achievements and the teamwork they demonstrated throughout the challenge.
Dawood, a Year 9 student, reflected on the experience: “We had a really good time at the LEGO League, especially presenting our work and answering questions. Reaching the semi-finals was an incredible achievement!”
Matthew, also in Year 9, added: “I enjoyed doing what I do best… LEGO!”
Hayden, another Year 9 participant, said: “The club was really fun, and so was the competition. It was such a great experience, and our teamwork was absolutely incredible.”
Hannah Keogh, Science Teacher and Robotics Project Leader at Abbey Park School, praised the students’ efforts: “Reaching the semi-finals was a fantastic achievement, and the team’s robotic designs were both innovative and creative. The First Lego League Challenge is about more than just robotics – it teaches teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience. We’re already looking forward to next year’s competition!”
