Robots at the "Battle O' Baltimore"

A couple weekends ago, HWMBO and I happily were able to be present at the Battle O' Baltimore.  This recently constituted event has absolutely nothing to do with the better-known Battle of Baltimore that took place during the War of 1812, when US forces successfully defended the city of Baltimore from an invasion by the British fleet who had sailed to the port of Baltimore via the Chesapeake Bay.  The defense of Baltimore at nearby Fort McHenry inspired Francis Scott Key to compose the lines to what we now know as "The Star-Spangled Banner," aka the US national anthem.

The Battle O' Baltimore that we attended was not nearly as violent as the 1812 original, thank heavens!  It was also great fun to watch.  As described in the url link provided above, this was the fourth annual "battle" of "robots" that are specifically designed by secondary school robotics clubs to play soccer (aka "football" to the world outside the United States) or, more properly, a variation of that game.  After returning from his visit to Switzerland and France, Grandson Prince C joined his school's robotics club where he has learned quite a lot.  At first, he was part of the design team.  By the time of the "Battle," he was one of those operating his team's robot.  The teams that participated in this year's event came from Pennsylvania and Virginia as well as Maryland and are listed here.  Here are those who were judging the event.

The "Battle" took place in the gymnasium of the Boys' Latin School of Maryland, which is in a beautiful part of Baltimore.  In the gym, each team had a cheering section.

Some cheering sections formed conga lines that serpentined around the gym between matches.

As it turned out, we arrived a bit later than we should have although the news that greeted us was good.  Prince C's robot had competed so well in its previous matches that it would participate in the semi-final bouts.  Fortunately, we were in time for those.  Robot 2199 is the one that we cheered for.

Prince C's blue t-shirted team huddles, planning their strategy.

Then they check their robot over carefully to ensure that everything is working the way that it should.

And here is mightly little Robot 2199 in action!

While Prince C's team won its first semi-final bout, it lost the next two, so it was the other team that went on to the final match.  We were very proud of him and his team's accomplishments.  And Prince C still had a big smile for his Grands!

It will be a "Battle" to look forward to next summer!