Empowering Innovation: Middle schoolers triumph at Micron Robotics Challenge

Wednesday, January 31, 2024: This past weekend, the Micron Robotics Challenge brought together middle school students from across the region to showcase their ingenuity and problem-solving skills. The competition took place on Saturday, January 27 at the Syracuse Museum of Science and Technology (MOST) and gave students the chance to work together to solve real-world challenges with robotics. The 2024 theme, "Design a device that can help a person with a disability complete a task,"  asked students to conceptualize, build and test a prototype device to address the problem, using microcontrollers, sensors and outputs provided in kits by the MOST.

As part of the competition, students not only had to build functional prototypes but also communicate their design process effectively. Each team created informative posters detailing how they utilized the Engineering Design Process to conceive, build and test their projects.

The North Syracuse Central School District had three teams of middle school students participating: two from Gillette Road Middle School (GRMS) and one from Roxboro Road Middle School (RRMS).  

The first GRMS team of students Ella Besemer, Addison Daz, Payton Jobson, Graysen Mims, and Bristol Widas, clinched the coveted first place. Their winning design focused on helping individuals dealing with mental health issues. The team developed an earpiece device that allows users to hear positive statements and affirmations—a small yet impactful solution for those in need.

The second GRMS team was made up of Bella Nappa, Lillie Revette, and Evelyn Riley. Their project involved a sensor-based device designed to assist deaf individuals in safely navigating traffic. By detecting car movement, the device ensures a safer experience for pedestrians with hearing impairments when crossing the street.

The Roxboro Road Middle School was made up of Juliet DeSalvo, Dinah Fellows, Ian Coville, Lucas Lamphere, Christian Foeppel, Nathan Boylan and Keegan Garvey. This team tackled the challenge by creating a "Color Detector." Aimed at aiding the visually impaired, their device assists users in identifying colors, providing crucial information about medicine caps, snack packaging, and more.

The Micron Robotics Challenge not only serves as a testament to the talent and creativity of these young minds but also emphasizes the importance of leveraging technology for the betterment of society. All projects presented through the competition serve as examples of the impact that innovative thinking can have on addressing real-world challenges, particularly those faced by individuals with disabilities.

Many thanks to the teachers who supported the teams of students: Steve Bacon, Brian Noll and Colleen O’Connor.