Girl Scouts Win Award at FIRST LEGO League World Festival

A group of Northeast and East Cobb Girl Scouts, members of the GENIUS (Girls Exploring New Ideas Using Science) robotics team, won the “Making a Difference” Judges’ Award at the FIRST LEGO League World Festival in St. Louis, where 80 teams competed, reports the Marietta Daily Journal.

Sarah Tsai, 12; Annika Garbers, 13; Keren Park, 13; Aidan Kedzierski, 12; Amanda Pham, 13; and Grayson McMichael, 14, won a series of tournaments for their camera system, designed to solve the problem of limited visibility behind wheelchairs.

The girls’ project was inspired by friend, Quinn Schnitzlein, 11, who has been wheelchair-bound due to Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

“The camera system is a backup camera system that would normally be used on a car. We have mounted the camera to the back of Quinn’s wheelchair with the help of the engineers from CATEA (Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access) at Georgia Tech. Dr. Stephen Sprigle helped us,” Pham, who is homeschooled, told the MDJ.

The girls told the MDJ they have no desire to patent their camera system, preferring to allow others in need of such a device to freely take advantage of their project.

FIRST LEGO League is a robotics program for 9- to 16-year-olds, designed to get them excited about science and technology. It’s a partnership between FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and the LEGO Group. Every September, a new scientific challenge is announced.

This season’s FIRST LEGO League challenge will explore the topic of food safety. More than 200,000 children from over 55 countries are expected to participate.

The GENIUS team is looking for sponsors and donations. Learn how you can help by visiting the team’s website geniusrobotics.com.

You can also follow the girls' on the GENIUS Robotics Facebook Page.