Robotics Workshop Recap: Plastic Ant Kits, Hockey, and Sumo at Trinity School!

On Saturday, April 12th, Robot Smashing League returned to Trinity School at River Ridge for our third robotics workshop—and this time, we debuted our brand-new "Plastic Ant" kit with a lifter! A group of enthusiastic 3rd-5th graders spent the morning building, competing, and learning alongside our team and some fantastic high school mentors.

Building the Bots: Teamwork and Problem-Solving

The three-hour workshop was packed with hands-on learning. Students worked in teams to assemble their Plastic Ant robots, a smaller-scale bot designed for fast-paced combat with lifting action.

We were especially thrilled to see:

• Returning students who had joined us in past workshops, leveling up their skills.
• Younger siblings of Trinity’s FRC team members already scheming their next build.
• Trinity Student helpers including FRC team members and student ambassadors.

Robot Hockey & Sumo: Game On!

After construction wrapped up, it was time to get driving! Students got to pilot their robots in two arenas: robot hockey and sumo, where strategy, teamwork, and a bit of controlled chaos made for a fun and competitive finale. The arena buzzed with excitement as teams tested their bots’ pushing power, agility, and (of course) durability.

Bonus Bot Fun: 3D Printing & Combat Robot Demo

To inspire the next generation of builders, we also:

• Showcased a battle-scarred 3lb combat robot. Complete with dents and stories from the arena.
• Fired up the school’s FRC team 3D printer. Showing how the FRC team quickly makes custom parts.
• Watched highlight reels from our Robot Smashing League tournament live streams! The kids loved seeing high level full-contact combat robotics in action.

Thank You, Trinity School!

Huge thanks to Trinity School for hosting us again and to the incredible students who made the workshop so much fun. We loved seeing all of the returning faces, and meeting new robot enthusiasts!

Looking Ahead

We’re excited to continue hosting workshops at Trinity School and other locations, bringing hands-on robotics education to more students who love to build, collaborate, and compete. If your school is interested in working with Robot Smashing League to host a workshop, reach out to us—we’d love to collaborate!