Source: Financiarul.ro.

RobotX Hunedoara: A Historic Achievement at FIRST Global Challenge 2018

The team RobotX Hunedoara has made an impressive mark at the FIRST Global Challenge 2018 held in Mexico, achieving a remarkable feat for Romania by securing five gold medals in categories such as „FIRST Global Winning Alliance,” „FIRST Global Challenge Award,” „FIRST Global Grand Challenge Award,” „Albert Einstein Award for FIRST Global International Excellence,” and the „Safety Award.” They also clinched the top position with the highest score in the competition.

Meet the Team Behind the Success

The talented members of RobotX Hunedoara, hailing from Colegiul Traian Lalescu, include Nicolae Vîrtan, Andrei Cunțan, Radu Cîndea, Cristian Budiul, Andrei Lörinczi, and Andrei Preda, alongside their mentor, Mircea Nistor. Cristian Vlăsceanu, a non-technical mentor from the Nație Prin Educație Association, also played a crucial role. The team expressed their gratitude, stating, „The experience at FIRST Global Challenge has transformed our lives in the most incredible way! We are immensely happy and thankful for all the support! We wish success to all teams participating in FIRST Global Challenge, with whom we have formed beautiful friendships! We already miss you all.”

Achievements in Robotics

In the two years leading up to this event, the Romanian robotics team has consistently excelled in the BRD FIRST Tech Challenge, a program introduced by the Nație Prin Educație Association, founded by Dana Războiu. Their dedication and hard work have been evident throughout their journey.

Emotional Support from Mentors

Dana Războiu closely followed the competition in Mexico, filled with anticipation and pride for her students and their mentors. „I chose the students from Hunedoara to represent Romania because of their seriousness, diligence, teamwork, and the excellent guidance of their teacher, who values discipline and aims for high performance. They have always maintained a positive attitude during competitions in Romania, showing intelligence, humility, and optimism. This is the key to their success. I am thrilled to have selected them, and they have exceeded my expectations with their numerous awards. This achievement is truly remarkable for Romania,” she stated.

About the FIRST Global Challenge

The FIRST Global Challenge in Mexico, which took place from August 15 to 18 at Arena Ciudad de Mexico, brought together participants from over 175 countries, aged 14 to 18, under the theme „Energy Impact.” The goal was to enhance their knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to prepare them as the next generation of scientific leaders tackling some of the world’s most pressing issues. This year’s theme encouraged students to investigate the impact of various energy sources and how they can be made more sustainable, ranging from conventional fossil fuels to renewable resources like solar and wind energy, all through the robots they designed and built.

Looking Ahead

FIRST Global Challenge is an annual international competition. In 2017, it was held in Washington, D.C., with Romania participating. The 2018 edition took place in Mexico, and the upcoming event is set to be hosted in Canada next year.