Engineering

Abington student takes third in international robot contest

Zuqun Li, a sophomore engineering student from Penn State Abington, won third place in the senior division at the International Fire Fighting Robot Contest on April 5 at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn.

Contest participants designed robots capable of navigating a maze and extinguishing a candle. The goal of the contest was for the robot to put out the flame in the shortest amount of time.

Teams from all over the United States competed with international teams from China, Portugal and Israel.

Li decided to enter the competition after taking a robotics course last spring with Bob Avanzato, associate professor of engineering at Penn State Abington. Li purchased his own robotics equipment on eBay and entered the contest, working independently and with little guidance from Avanzato.

Li, who won $100 plus a subscription to Circuit Cellar Magazine and a medallion for his third-place entry, plans to use his award money for his personal robot fund.

Last Updated May 4, 2009

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