Ludington O-Bots qualify for FIRST Robotics World Championship

Submitted photo.

LUDINGTON — Ludington High School’s robotics team has qualified for the FIRST Robotics World Championship in Houston, Texas.

Team No. 7160, the O-Bots, earned a spot on the global stage after finishing 49th out of 619 teams at the Michigan state competition.

The team will compete April 29 through May 2 at the George R. Brown Convention Center, joining about 600 high school teams from 35 countries.

The O-Bots advanced through a season marked by consistent performance. The team placed among the top alliances at the Muskegon District Competition, then captured a district championship at Ferris State University. At the state level, competing on the DTE field at Saginaw Valley State University, the team again finished among the top alliances to secure its berth to the world championship.

Central to the team’s success is its robot, Cyclops, which was designed, programmed and built by Ludington High School students. The robot was engineered for consistency and reliability in complex competition tasks.

A key factor in the team’s development was access to a full practice field at UACJ, where the O-Bots worked alongside more than 20 area teams to test and refine their robot in a competition-like environment.

“We play one match at a time,” coach Karen Shineldecker said. “I have always encouraged the team to support each other in their individual charge. We play our game. Gracious Professionalism is our backbone.”

Ten students, along with coaches and mentors, will travel to Houston for the competition.

“Cyclops,” the precision-engineered machine taking the O-Bots to the world stage.

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