Albritton BuildDogs "Unearth" an Interesting Experience with FIRST Robotics

Albritton BuildDogs "unearthed" an interesting experience at the North Carolina FIRST Lego League (FLL) Qualifier at Red Springs High School on November 22, 2025. 

FIRST, which means "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology," hosts Lego League challenges each year. Last year was the rookie FLL year for the Albritton BuildDogs, and they began working on the challenge in August. This year, the BuildDogs had an abbreviated season due to club delays and the government shutdown. The team began working on this year's challenge, "Unearthed" in the middle of October. At the qualifier, teams are assessed on their robot design, robot game, innovation project, and core values.

To prepare for their innovation project, robotics club students interviewed Sarah Robinson, who is studying anthropology and spent several weeks last summer on an archaeological dig. Ms. Robinson's insight into the many steps required to locate and document artifacts was invaluable for the BuildDogs in the development of their innovation project. From her, they learned that archeological digs require a lot of time-consuming human labor, so they decided to design a bot that would simplify and speed up the tasks involved with a dig. 

Ms. Robinson described how her team would identify a potential dig site and search it by forming a line of humans five meters apart. They had to mark potential finds with colored flags, then map the entire area, and send that information to the Smithsonian Institute. This inspired the BuildDogs to create a bot that would do preliminary site searching, mapping, and relaying of information for archaeologists. They named their design, "Arcbot."

Albritton is located just around the corner from the Fort Bragg  Airborne Innovation Lab, and students have toured their facility and received support from their soldiers in the past. The BuildDogs reached out to Lt. Addeo, who runs the facility, to request help with their innovation project. Students were thrilled when Lt. Addeo and Sgt. Kennelly, robot handler, visited the BuildDogs' club room after school one day, bringing along their robot dog, Jeremy! It was great to see Jeremy in action and learn how he is controlled and what his capabilities are. For example, students learned that Jeremy weighs about 130 pounds, is waterproof, includes detachable features, and comes with replacement legs. Students presented their innovation project idea to the soldiers, and they provided valuable feedback and recommendations. 

At the FLL qualifier, the BuildDogs presented their robot design and innovation project at 8:00 a.m. The judges praised the BuildDogs for their outreach and research. After that, there was time for the BuildDogs to interact with other teams, sharing their ideas and learning from others. Traditionally, each team brings small items or swag, like bouncy balls or pins with slogans, to share with other teams. The BuildDogs distributed "Good Luck" stickers and BuildDog tokens. Lunch was a welcome break in the sunshine before the robot runs of the afternoon. There were some hiccups with the BuildDogs' robot game; nevertheless, the team doubled its scores from the previous year, clearly making progress despite the challenges of the shortened season. The team, which consists of four veteran members and six new members, works well together. Their coach, Dena Vassey, is proud of their growth and teamwork. 

The BuildDogs are looking forward to switching gears for the upcoming FIRST Tech Challenge season, "Decode." They will design a new metal bot (see images of 21779 from the 24-25 season in the gallery below) and compete with it in January. Good luck, BuildDogs!