The Middle School Robotics team competed in the Children and Youth Day Brushbot Tournament at the State Capitol on October 2, 2011. Hosted by the Children and Youth Day, Kalani High School Robotics and Hawai'i Space Grant Consortium (UH), the event provides the opportunity for students to try out their latest designs and learn from other competitors.

Nineteen teams from public, charter and private schools were invited to participate with their Brushbots.

In the Sumo Division the playing field is a 10" upside-down stainless steel “pizza pan” on which Brushbots compete (2 from each team). The winning Brushbot is the one left standing after all the rest have fallen off the playing field. The IPA team made it to the finals, but were defeated on a technicality.

Any sized brush and motor can be used in the Open Bot competition. The object of the competition is to have a moving bot (vibrating, spinning, moving forward, etc.) that is decorated in a fancy and innovative way. Entertainment is a must. Sixth-grader Adrian Bates-Domingo was a finalist with his spinning alien called "UFT- Unidentified Flying Thingamajigger."

Said Robotics Teacher Michelle Bradley, "Our goal was to have fun and learn team work in a tournament setting. Students used the design cycle at school to work as a team while designing their Brushbots. At the tournament the students really excelled in their ability to trouble-shoot and problem solve with their team."

When asked what helped his team become a finalist in the Open Bot division Bates-Domingo said, "Be patient with your robot and be able to think quickly to solve problems."

Additional opportunities for competition are ahead this year for both the Middle and Upper School Robotics teams.