'Can-Do' Spirit Drives Winning Norup Robotics Team

Members of the robotics team are basking in the glow of their win May 7 during the World Robofest 2011 Championship at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield.

The Robo Ninjas pulled out all their best moves during Robofest and, in the end, the Norup team – donned in classic ninja outfits known as shinobi shozoko – captured the world championship title in the RoboFashion and Dance Show category. The ninjas competed against robo dance teams from Michigan, Ohio, Texas and even Korea.

"We are enormously proud of their achievement," Norup Principal Jamii Hitchcock said. "Through programs such as the Robotics Club, students learn the value of hard work and understand how to apply what they learned in the classroom to real world situations."

The Robo Ninjas comprise Jayna Carden, sixth grade; Peter Chekal, fifth grade; Jagger Huff, sixth grade; Miles Huff, fourth grade; Kevin Rezanka, sixth grade; Keven Traute, sixth grade; and coach Doug Rezanka. Rezanka said he also wanted to credit parent volunteers David Chekal and Mark Huff, who helped make the team a success.

"I'm pretty proud," Mark Huff said. "To have two kids on the national robotics team, it's a dream. Any parent would be extremely proud if just one of their kids made it this far. ... It truly is remarkable what they accomplished. My kids are still basking in the glow of it all."

Robofest is an annual robotics competition focusing on learning STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology and Math) for students in fifth through 12th grades, as well as college scholars. Robofest challenges teams of students to design, build and program robots to compete in three areas of competition: Game, Exhibition and RoboFashion and Dance.

RoboFashion and Dance was a good category for the team, Rezanka said, as it let the Robo Ninjas learn the technical skills needed to compete with robots, "but in a fun way."

In the fall, the team joined the FIRST Robotics Lego League but had difficulty with the technical aspects, the coach said. The team regrouped and discovered Robofest's dance category, deciding on a ninja theme and the team's name.

“It was all their idea; we just helped guide them through the process of settling on one program," Rezanka said. "But it was all their design and planning.”

The Robo Ninjas conceived a mystical story line that included two robots that would free an emperor from imprisonment. To add to the concept, the team wore ninja garb and danced behind a backlit screen with ninja poses and movements.

"It's an incredible feat to accomplish in one year's time," Huff said. "After the FIRST competition, they gave us a list of things to improve on. They went back and used the constructive criticism to their advantage. It was a great life lesson for the kids."

In April, the team took its new, improved act to Michigan regionals at Lawrence Tech. They placed third and qualified for the world championships during that competition, using their ninja robotics skills. See a video of the regionals and their routine here.

For the championships, the team added a robot, crafted to open a cage and release the emperor. A few more dance moves and choreography also were added.

“I'm really proud of the Robo Ninjas and excited that even though we struggled at FIRST, we were able to win (the Robofest championship),” Rezanka said. “Hopefully, we will be competing again in FIRST in the fall.”

He said involvement in the FIRST Lego league depends whether the team can gather enough parent volunteers and support.

The world Robofest competition drew 436 teams and 1,483 students from 11 states and four countries. According to Lawrence Technological Institute's University News Bureau's Eric Pope, Robofest has spread to 10 states besides Michigan – Ohio, Indiana, Texas, Minnesota, Florida, Hawaii, California, Washington, Louisiana and New Hampshire – as well as Canada, Singapore, South Korea and China.

"The win speaks volumes about our children," Huff said. "Lawrence Tech said it was unheard of to win in the first year of competition. We have an outstanding group of kids. We were just there to help them find their direction. But they did all the work."

Hitchcock said he couldn't wait to see what the team comes up with next season.

"The students in the robotics program embody the spirit of those always striving to do their best," their principal said. "Through tireless work outside of school, numerous trials and errors and with can-do spirit, the robotics team triumphed over adversity."