NAVFAC EXWC Mentors Youth-Based Robotics Program, Places 2nd in World Championships

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When Vincent Pecchia heard about the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition, his first thought was, "Wow, this is a really cool idea."

But when the 17-year-old from Ventura County, Calif., went to the competition's "preliminary" round on Saturday in Houston, he was surprised to learn his robot had been chosen as one of 44 to advance to the World Championships in April, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The high school team's robot, named HighTide, had to navigate a series of obstacles, including climbing monkey bars, picking up soccer balls, and shooting them into the air.

It also had to change its trajectory to avoid bumps caused by waves.

Pecchia's team was one of 35 to advance to the World Championships, which will see 452 teams from around the world compete.

The award for HighTide "demonstrates consistent, high performance robot operation during autonomously competitive and meaningful way through FIRST," the team's mentor, a mechanical engineer for the Navy, says in a press release.

Pecchia's team is the first from Ventura County to advance to the World Championships, and the Times notes that other high school robotics teams have made it to the

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