Robot Battles: Fuquay-Varina High School’s “Slice” Team and Enloe’s “RoboEagles” Compete for World Championship in Houston.

North Carolina high school robotics teams, including Fuquay-Varina High School’s “Slice” team and Enloe’s “RoboEagles,” are competing in Houston, Texas, for the world championships. Thirteen teams from North Carolina traveled to Houston for the First Championship competition held on April 17-20, 2024.

The competition is known for bringing together schools from around the world to pit their robot creations against each other. Despite being a battle-like competition, it is one where everyone emerges as a winner. The students involved invest their time and effort into designing and coding their robots to make them battle-ready.

Norm Dion, a teacher at Fuquay-Varina High School, oversees Team Slice and emphasizes the compressed time frame in which the students work. Funding for such competitions comes from student fundraising, sponsorships, and grants, showcasing the dedication and commitment of everyone involved.

Greg Dunko, advisor to the RoboEagles, acknowledges the sleepless nights and intense schedule leading up to the competition. Students drive the team’s activities, pushing themselves to meet every night in preparation for the challenges ahead. Raza Alam from Cary senior expresses his excitement for the competition’s energy and intensity, highlighting the camaraderie and team spirit among participants.

Slice robots operate autonomously, following pre-programmed instructions to complete tasks with speed and accuracy. The more rings the robots hit the target, the higher the score, showcasing the technical skills and strategy involved in the competition. Beyond