MTA’s Lionotics robotics team showcased exceptional talent in the recent FIRST Tech Challenge competition held last Sunday. The competition featured many top public and private schools from across the city, but Lionotics stood out with two well-designed robots. Lionotics 1 emerged as the dominant force during the qualifying matches, going undefeated and earning the top ranking. Lionotics 2 was equally impressive in its first match, but sadly its electronics malfunctioned after that one success. In the playoffs, Lionotics 1 led its alliance to victory, claiming the title of undefeated champions and securing the #1 rank in the competition. The team’s success extended beyond the local level, with their robot recognized as the top-ranked in New York City and second in the entire state, placing them in the top 5% globally among over 5000 ranked teams.

In addition to their impressive robot performance, both Lionotics teams had the opportunity to present their creations to judges, earning recognition for their exceptional work. Lionotics 2 received the Control Award for their prowess in software, particularly for their excellent use of computer vision and control algorithms for autonomous robot control. Meanwhile, Lionotics 1 won the Inspire Award, the competition’s most prestigious honor. This award recognized the team’s excellence across various judging categories, including robot design, software, competition performance, as well as networking, learning and teaching. The judges particularly commended the commitment of the team to develop skills for less experienced members. As a result of their outstanding achievements, Lionotics secured a place in the next level of competition in New York City, marking a resounding success for the team with multiple trophies and medals.