Robotics

VEX IQ Mini-BOTS (K-2nd Grade)
This after-school program is an introduction to the engineering design process through literature, testing of tools, and a building project. Students become familiar with the VEX IQ product, robotics terminology, supplies, and aspects of designing something to meet an objective.

VEX IQ (3rd-5th Grade)
VEX IQ is a worldwide robotics program for students in 3rd through 8th grade. Students work in small groups (three to four students) to design, build, program, and compete with their own robots. Competitions include teamwork skills, driving skills, and programming skills, and a review of the teams’ engineering design notebooks. Teams compete in at least two local events, and may qualify for the VEX IQ State Championship and the VEX IQ World Championship.

VEX IQ Robotics (6th-8th Grade)
VEX IQ is a worldwide robotics program for students in 6th through 8th grade. Students work in small groups (three to four students) to design, build, program, and compete with their own robots. Competitions include teamwork skills, driving skills, and programming skills, and a review of the teams’ engineering design notebooks. Teams compete in at least two local events, and may qualify for the VEX IQ State Championship and the VEX IQ World Championship. The 6th and 7th grade students in VEX IQ become more independent as they focus on design and strategy.

VEX Robotics (9th-12th Grade)
VEX Robotics Competition (VRC) is a worldwide program for middle and high school students. In VRC, students put their STEM learning to use in a competition to build an innovative robot that can meet the assigned challenge. Teams attend two local events and may qualify for the VRC State Championship and the VRC World Championship.

FIRST Robotics Competition is an international high school robotics program that models real-world engineering experiences in a competitive environment. Notre Dame’s Killer Bees are one of the founding teams in Michigan, having been actively building and competing since 1996. We partner with local and international companies; our mentors are industry professionals, and our students meet at the Stellantis Headquarters in the Chrysler Tech Center in Auburn Hills.

We have an application and interview process in the fall each year and work each Monday throughout the school year on training, preparation and learning prototyping and fabrication skills.

In early January, the unique game challenge is revealed to a worldwide audience. Students and mentors work together to design, prototype, fabricate, build, program, and test a 120-pound robot; then travel to district events to qualify for the Michigan State Championships and the FIRST World Championship in March and April. Competitions feature more than 40 teams, judged awards and an exciting, energizing, intense, and fun event over two days.  

Participants in the FIRST Robotics Competition have exclusive access to more than $80 million in available scholarships from companies and colleges and experience networking opportunities with career professionals while engaging in a unique opportunity to apply academic learning to a hands-on, practical setting.

To learn more about the FIRST Robotics Competition team, please visit killerbees33.com.

Oakland County Competitive Robotics Association is a competitive robotics league with high schools in Oakland county. Students lead the design and fabrication to produce a 120-pound robot to compete in local events that culminates in a county championship. The OCCRA season begins in early September and is completed by the end of November with team build sessions in the NDP robotics lab. To learn more about the OCCRA team, please visit killerbees33.com.