Edison Ford Robotics Team, “Assembly Required” Advances to World Competition

Edison and Ford Winter Estates Robotics Team Heading to World Championship Competition

FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 9, 2022) — The Edison and Ford Winter Estates (EFWE) robotics team, “Assembly Required,” a FIRST LEGO league division team competed against 31 other teams in the Regional Championship for the Southwest Florida region (there are five regions in the state). “Assembly Required” registered the 2nd top robot game score at 340 points and won 1st place in the Championship Award, which is given to the team with the best overall performance in all categories.

At the regional level, the top seven teams advanced to the State Championship, with the 2nd top team also advancing to the National Invitational, and the top team advancing to the FIRST World Invitational in Houston, Texas. “Assembly Required” will advance to the State Championship for the robot game and to the World Invitational for the best overall performance. The competition involved four categories: robot game, technical design, project (similar to a group science fair project), and core values. Only one team from each region will represent the state of Florida in the international event.

In addition, Pearce Augustenborg, the Education Manager for EFWE and the coach and mentor for the team was nominated for and received the Coach and Mentor Award. Augustenborg also writes the curriculum and teaches the Summer Camp and other education programs at EFWE.

The team is currently sponsored by the Scientists’ Society of Southwest Florida and TLC Engineering. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available and donations are being accepted to help fund the team’s trip to Texas. To donate today, visit EdisonFord.org and select the education option on the donate page, or call 239-334-7419.

Edison and Ford Winter Estates is the internationally known winter home site of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. More than 220,000 visitors walk through the location each year from all around the globe. The organization has received many awards, including the National Stewardship Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Garden Clubs’ Historic Preservation Award. The property is an official project of “Save America’s Treasures,” a Florida Historic Landmark and a National Register Historic Site. The Edison Botanic Laboratory is a National Historic Chemical Landmark. The site is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and until 9 p.m. during the month of December for Holiday Nights.