News and Events

The following is a press release that was shared by ARM Endorsed Training Program BotsIQ.

The 2024 BotsIQ combat robotics competition season is officially over, and the Fox Chapel Area High School team, Blackbird, proved they have what it takes to succeed. In April, they came to BotsIQ’s regionals Finals Competition at PennWest California determined to succeed. They managed to drive all the way to fifth place over the course of the two-day combat portion of the competition, which combined with their incredible results in the documentation and interview portions placed them as the 2024 BotsIQ Grand Champions. 

“I knew the team had great potential to succeed, but I knew we were against some very destructive competition.” said Jackson Hagler, BotsIQ Student Ambassador at Fox Chapel.  “The team exceeded my expectations and I couldn’t be happier with how we did. ”

But their success didn’t stop there, as they earned an invitation to BotsIQ’s national competition in May, ‘Burgh Bash, at Robert Morris University’s UPMC Events Center. There the team was offered another opportunity to display their mastery of combat robotics skills. Blackbird managed to remain undefeated until the semifinals, at which point their bot lost to Fort Zumwalt West’s Dino. They were placed into the final bout of the loser’s bracket the next day, and after quickly defeating Hempfield Area’s Mr. Wiggles, they faced Dino again. After two tough battles, Fox Chapel redeemed themselves and took home first place, as well as another Grand Champion title owing to their high documentation and interview scores.

“Mr Siniawski, the Fox Chapel principal advisor, has built a great culture among the team members.” said Eric Glaser, Blackbird’s Industry Advisor and Vice President of Research and Development at Aerotech.  “The whole team pitched in, and that is a big reason for their success.”

BotsIQ is the largest youth manufacturing workforce development program in southwestern Pennsylvania. Each year programs like the combat robotics competition introduces over a thousand students to the manufacturing industry and local companies while teaching them in-demand skills and helping to spark further interest in STEM fields. BotsIQ helps to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the real world and has engaged more than 15,000 students since 2005.

For more information about BotsIQ and their upcoming events, visit www.botsiqpa.org. 

Congratulations to Fox Chapel Area High School on their fantastic showing at the BotsIQ competitions this year.