Surat (Gujarat) [India]: Team Lab Fusion, mentored by RFL Academy, emerged victorious at the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) India national chapter held in Goa from January 25-28th.
Their impressive robot and dedication earned them the Control Award, while team member Yugsingh Gharia received the prestigious Dean’s List Finalist Award for his leadership, technical skills, and commitment to promoting robotics among underprivileged communities.
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59 teams from across India competed in this year’s challenge, themed “Centre Stage.” The 11 members of Team Lab Fusion, students from grades 8-12, designed and programmed an AI robot capable of object detection and strategic decision-making. Their 11kg marvel identified and lifted pixels, placing them at specific heights on a designated board before finally launching a drone and securing itself on a truss. This remarkable feat landed them a perfect 6-0 record in the league round and a spot in the game’s semi-finals.
Beyond robot prowess, Team Lab Fusion made waves with creative outreach initiatives. Their “But FIRST, STEM” Spotify podcast and engaging Instagram reels, garnering over 1 lakh views, playfully demystified robotics concepts. Mentored by RFL Academy, a pioneer in Surat’s robotics education, this team is no stranger to success. Last year, they represented India at the FIRST World Championship, Houston, USA, clinching the Think Award.
Team Lab Fusion’s journey continues! They will represent India at the Asia Pacific Open Invitational in Sydney, Australia, from July 11-14th. Additionally, Yugsingh Gharia will carry India’s hopes at the Dean’s List nomination round at the FIRST World Championship in Houston this April.
“We are incredibly proud of Team Lab Fusion and Yugsingh’s achievements,” said Ashwin Shah – CEO at RFL Academy. “Their dedication, innovation, and commitment to social impact are truly inspiring. We wish them the very best in their future endeavours!”
