11/10/2025
๐ก๐๐ช๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐ | ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐: ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฒ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ
At a young age, students from various schools are already delving into innovationโdesigning compact yet powerful robots that reflect their creativity, intelligence, and technical skills. On the third day of the Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW), excitement reached its peak at the Nueva Vizcaya State University-Bayombong Gymnasium during the Smartbot Arena Competition, featuring two categories: Line Tracing Challenge and SumoBot Showdown.
In the Line Tracing Challenge, eight robots competed to complete a course by following a black line on a white background in the shortest time possible. Representing Maddela Comprehensive High School, students Lance Jastine Albolera, Carl Ulysses Ramos, and Clarence Agustin, with their coach Sid Eleazar R. Gaffud, captured first place with their robot โCheetah.โ
Despite encountering a calibration issue during their first attempt that caused a 13-second delay, the team remained composed and determined. Cheetah still finished with a total time of 19 seconds, outpacing other contenders. On the second run, it recorded an impressive 6.13 seconds, securing the championship title.
"I would rate our experience a 7 out of 10. It was quite a roller coaster," said Lance Jastine Albolera, a STEM student and one of the inventors of the winning robot, reflecting on the challenges they faced.
Meanwhile, in the SumoBot Showdown, six robots battled for dominance in head-to-head matches following the traditional sumo wrestling system. Representing Quirino General High School, students Liam Andrei Q. Toribio, Jullian Kyle U. Emperador, and Thirdy Jay E. Braga, guided by coaches Joey V. Ritumban and Renel Ian S. Gacayan, showcased the power of their robot โVoltes V.โ
Their robot fought fiercely throughout the competition. Every motion showed how well it was built and prepared for the challenge. Each round consisted of two matches, and Voltes V swept them all. In the first round, it wasted no time, pushing its opponent out of the ring twice in a row.
The second round displayed its strength even more as it flipped another robot upside down. By the semifinals, Voltes V combined both movesโpushing and flipping its rivalโto secure a flawless win. And in the championship round, it repeated the same powerful combo, proving why it was the unstoppable force of the arena.
"Our experience as a team was very exciting and, at the same time, chilling," the team shared, recalling the tense moments during the competition.
They added that coding errors and calibration issues tested not only their patience but also how well they worked together under pressure.
โThankfully, we had our coaches who motivated and guided us on the right path,โ they added.
Both winning teams proudly represented the Schools Division Office (SDO) of Quirino, bringing honor to their schools and proving that young innovators can truly make their mark in the growing field of robotics. ๐ฉ๐
๐ป Jiruh Caramat
