“In Explore, teams focus on the fundamentals of engineering as they explore real-world problems, learn to design, and code, and create unique solutions made with LEGO bricks and powered by LEGO® Education SPIKE Essential.”

Teams are formed based on which school a student attends with a maximum of 6 per team. The season runs from September to early December and usually meetings are once a week. Students at this level will complete the challenge and attend the “Bloomfield Bash”, a non-competitive event where teams will present the best from their season to reviewers, participate in a team building activity, and see the next levels of robotics in action.

FLL Challenge is a FIRST Robotics program for 4th-5th graders. “Friendly competition is at the heart of Challenge, as teams of students engage in research, problem-solving, coding, and engineering – building and programming a LEGO robot that navigates the missions of a robot game.”

Teams are formed based on which school a student attends. Typically teams have around 8 students and the season runs from September-early December. They meet 1-2 times per week. Students at this level have the opportunity to compete against other teams in the area.

“FIRST Tech Challenge students learn to think like engineers. Teams design, build, and code robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. Robots are built from a reusable platform, powered by Android technology, and can be coded using a variety of levels of Java-based programming.”

Teams are formed at our two middle schools: North Hills and South Hills. Typically teams have up to 10 students and meet 2-3 times per week at the High School Shop at Franklin & Square Lake. Each team will compete in 2 regional events and possibly the state and world championships. The season runs from August/September through December.

Combining the excitement of sport with the rigors of STEM, FRC teams use sophisticated technology to build and program industrial-sized robots to play an action-packed, alliance-based game on a themed field that changes every year. Teams of students compete for awards, while they also create a team identity, raise funds, hone teamwork skills, and advance respect and appreciation for STEM within the local community.

Bloomfield Hills has one FRC team... the Hall of Fame Bionic Black Hawks. Potential team members should contact the head coach at bloomfieldhillsrobotics@gmail.com to schedule an interview.