The Robotic Raiders, a FIRST® LEGO® League team from Williamsburg, Iowa, earned runner-up prize for their invention, Cyclone Survivor Board Game, last night at the 2014 FIRST® LEGO® League Global Innovation Award ceremony, at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Va. They received $5,000 from XPRIZE and support from Edison Nation to help them take their invention to store shelves.
RUNNER-UP - Cyclone Survivor Board Game by the Robotic Raiders of Williamsburg, Iowa
Cyclone Survivor is an educational board game that uses federal and local information to educate players on how to prepare for, survive and recover from a tornado. The object of the game is to collect miniature Emergency Gear to place in the player's Emergency Kit. The interactive tool can be customized to help educate students learn about other natural disasters such as ice storms, earthquakes or hurricanes.
As part of the 2013-2014 NATURE'S FURYSM Challenge, FIRST LEGO League teams (youths ages 9-16) in nearly 80 countries were asked to explore natural disasters and develop innovative ways to mitigate the effects of these often devastating events. Teams were then encouraged to submit their ideas for a chance to win the fourth annual FIRST LEGO League Global Innovation Award.
"These students continue to amaze me with their ideas and passion for helping others. When young people are given a platform and support for exploring answers to today's pressing social problems, they are able to create innovative solutions that will ultimately improve lives," said Kamen, who is also president of DEKA Research & Development. "Today, they have shown that solving problems together is a fun, rewarding adventure."
FIRST LEGO League partners with Award Sponsors to advance a common goal: fostering innovative problem-solvers. XPRIZE was Presenting Sponsor of the FIRST LEGO League Global Innovation Award for the fourth consecutive year. XPRIZE attracts the world's top innovators and supports them in tackling the grand challenges faced by society.
"XPRIZE is honored to be the Presenting Sponsor of the FIRST LEGO League Global Innovation Award," said Alan Zack, senior director, Marketing & Communications, XPRIZE. "All of the finalist teams here today have proven that through competition you can create great results. Each of you came together as a team to produce something, and this teamwork was vital to your success. You may go on to solve the grand challenges, whatever they may be - and when you do, you will be doing it as part of a team."
The FIRST LEGO League Global Innovation Award Partners in Innovation Sponsors include : Booz Allen Hamilton, John Deere, Rockwell Collins, International Association of Emergency Managers, and Qualcomm. Edison Nation is the Go-To Market Sponsor to help winning teams take their product from idea to store shelves. The FLL Global Innovation Award is presented in cooperation with the National Building Museum and the USPTO.
For more information about FIRST LEGO League and the Global Innovation Award, please visit http://www.firstlegoleague.
