Students from the Robotics Club at Agrupamento de Escolas Raul Proença stand out at BotOlympics and RoboParty

The Programming and Robotics Club of Agrupamento de Escolas Raul Proença experienced a particularly intense March, marked by participation in two of the most prestigious robotics events at national level: BotOlympics, organised by the University of Coimbra, and RoboParty, held in Guimarães. Over several days, the students had the opportunity to apply, in a real context, the knowledge and skills they have been developing in the club, facing technical, creative and strategic challenges.

Currently, the club has around 45 students regularly involved in activities, taking part in project development, programming and robotics workshops, 3D printing activities and intensive preparation for competitions, in an environment that combines practical learning, creativity and a competitive spirit. One of the main goals is to ensure that each student takes part in at least one competition during the school year. This philosophy has not only increased the number of students with competitive experience, but has also strengthened values such as commitment, responsibility, collaboration and a sense of belonging to the group, while bringing learning closer to practical contexts.

Between 19 and 22 March, 16 students took part in BotOlympics, a competition organised by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Coimbra. Participants were divided into basic and secondary education teams, facing trials with different levels of complexity, designed to test the knowledge acquired and the ability to solve problems in real situations. In basic education, the students took part in the ISR trial, using a simple and intuitive robotics kit, the MBot2, programmed in a block-based language similar to Scratch. Participants had to complete a track using various sensors, avoiding obstacles along the course. This trial requires logical reasoning, precision and adaptability, allowing students to experiment with and learn programming and robotics in a practical way, reinforcing logical thinking and problem-solving skills from an early age.

In secondary education, the Bot'n Roll trial presented a more advanced challenge. With the Bot'N Roll ONE A robot, programmed in C++ for Arduino, participants had to collect and deliver orders in a simulated environment, using multiple sensors to navigate and react to obstacles. This trial combines technical programming and electronics skills with planning ability, problem analysis and solution optimisation, bringing students closer to the operation of autonomous robotic systems in real contexts. The results achieved at BotOlympics reflect the consistency of the work developed in the club. For the third consecutive year, first place was won in secondary education, demonstrating the students' competence and the consistency of their work throughout the year. In basic education, third place showed the determination and growth of the younger students over the year. Individually, first and fourth places in the Bot'n Roll trial and third and fourth places in the ISR trial also stand out.

With little time to recover, the club was back in action just a few days later, between 25 and 27 March, taking part in RoboParty, one of the largest educational robotics events in Portugal, which brought together around 105 teams and 500 participants. Over three days, the school group's teams took part in several trials, each with distinct objectives.

In the Fun Challenge, the students took part in a challenge that required cooperation between the participant and the robot. Using the Bot'n Roll One A+ with its sensors and actuators, they had to push ping-pong balls into the opposing field, with different scores depending on the colour of the balls. At the same time, it was possible to interact with side flags that activated air-flow systems, helping to move the balls. The trial required quick decision-making, precise coordination and constant adaptation, challenging the students to combine strategy, technique and creativity in real time.

In the Crazy Race, the robots were tested on a track that combined line following and obstacle avoidance, requiring efficient use of sensors and programming to navigate autonomously. Participants had to ensure that the robots completed the marked route with precision and speed, intelligently avoiding obstacles and choosing alternative paths when necessary.

In the Robot Show, the students programmed the robots to perform autonomous choreographies synchronised with music, exploring movement patterns, rotations and interactions with the environment. Collaboration with Visual Arts students, responsible for the aesthetic component of the robots, developed from the school group's theme, "E depois do medo…", stands out. The result was a presentation in which technology and art complemented each other, demonstrating how STEAM projects can integrate technique, creativity and teamwork in an inspiring way.

Although no podium places were achieved in this edition of RoboParty, participation was marked by commitment, teamwork and persistence in the face of technical difficulties. More than the results, the experience made it possible to consolidate skills such as critical thinking, autonomy, resilience, communication and time management. These nine days of intense activity, during which the club was competing for seven of them, showed that learning in a competitive context goes far beyond simple problem solving: it develops the ability to face challenges, improvise and collaborate, skills that are fundamental for the students' academic and professional future.

Participation in these competitions fits within a clear pedagogical approach based on active learning methodologies. Robotics in a competitive context creates environments where students learn by doing, testing solutions, correcting mistakes and reflecting on results in a continuous cycle of trial and error. In addition to applying STEAM concepts — science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics — this type of approach promotes the development of essential behavioural skills (soft skills), such as autonomy, teamwork, critical thinking, resilience and adaptability.

More than podiums or immediate results, the experience lived by these students highlights the importance of competition-based educational robotics: a stimulating, motivating and challenging environment, capable of turning theoretical knowledge into practice, reinforcing social skills and preparing young people for the challenges of the 21st century. By combining technique, creativity and collaboration, the club is consolidating itself as a centre of educational excellence, where each student can explore and develop their full potential.