Submerged in the World of Science
FranziRobots 1 win the regional decision of the FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge at the ROSEN Group in Lingen (Ems), Germany
"We are very happy about our victory and hope that we will be just as successful in Aachen!" said the delighted "FranziRobots 1" from Franziskusgymnasium Lingen. The team successfully demonstrated their skills during the FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge and impressed the jury with their creativity and passion for technology. By winning the overall regional competition, they also qualified for the semi-finals in Aachen, Germany. They prevailed against ten other teams from educational institutions in Emsland, Grafschaft Bentheim, and Münsterland. Due to the large number of entries, two teams again qualified for the semi-finals in Aachen. The second ticket went to the "CBB Legends" from the Grafschaft Bentheim Nordhorn Vocational Training Campus.
The international research and robotics competition took place on Saturday, February 8, 2025, in collaboration with Rosenxt at the Innovation Center in Lingen (Ems).
Great interest in technology, robotics and artificial intelligence at the FIRST® LEGO® League 2025
"ROSEN has been organizing the competition here in the region since 2017. Just like last year, we received numerous registrations, so much so that we even had to open a waiting list. This shows once again how well-received the FIRST® LEGO® League is and how interested pupils are in the competition. We are happy to support this enthusiasm for technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence, as it is important for us to promote a holistic understanding of these topics among young talents. I am always impressed by the commitment of the pupils and their technological as well as creative solutions, which were developed months in advance. No matter who wins in the end, all approaches fit very well here in our Innovation Center. ", says Marc Baumeister (Head of Innovation Center) happily on the occasion of the event.
"SUBMERGED" in the depths of science
For around six months, the teams of around 100 pupils prepared for the competition by designing and programming an autonomous LEGO robot. At the same time, they developed a research project on the event motto "SUBMERGED". It invites them to explore the different layers of the ocean and present their findings and ideas for the future.
"ROSEN stands for innovative technologies that pave the way for a sustainable future – through creative development processes. We tinker, experiment and think beyond boundaries. This is exactly what the pupils proved: They built their autonomous robots, mastered tricky challenges, tested and discarded ideas and overcame obstacles in the process. But in the end, one thing counts above all: strong teamwork and fun at work. Because only together, with mutual support, can the best solutions be created – that's how we do it at ROSEN ," explains Marc.
With numerous axoltl facts through the competition day
After the welcome, sea creatures immediately took over the stage. The moderation duo, dressed as axolotls, gave the official starting signal for the FIRST® LEGO® League 2025 in line with the motto. The teams then submerged themselves in the world of science. They presented their individual results, which were assessed in various disciplines by a jury of ROSEN and Rosenxt employees. In 35-minute jury sessions, they first presented their research project and then their LEGO robot. Here, they were able to collect valuable points for the categories of research, robot design, and core values. It quickly became clear that each team had found a creative solution. The "GeoRobots", for example, focused on the topic of sonar and investigated how it is possible to orientate and see something under water. In order to achieve a good rating in the core values category, it was particularly important to show team spirit and good teamwork.
Qualification phase for the Robot Game quarter-finals
The following item on the agenda consisted of three preliminary rounds for the Robot Games. In these, a total of eight teams qualified for the quarter-finals. During the Robot Games, the LEGO robots programmed by the teams solve predefined tasks in two and a half minutes on a special playing field equipped with LEGO models. The aim? To collect as many points as possible. For example, the robots had to raise the mast of a shipwreck or free a treasure chest from the nest of a Kraken. The pressure resulted not only from the short time available but also from the fact that two teams had to compete in the competition arena at the same time.
The quarter-finals were followed by the semi-finals before the highlight of the event in the evening: the Robot Game final! Under the attentive gaze of the audience, the two finalists, "FranziRobots 1" and "CBB Legends," fought an exciting duel. In the spotlight of the arena, the "FranziRobots 1" team ultimately won the final. The team also secured overall victory, as they scored the most points in all categories. The prizes in the other categories went to "CBB Legends" (Robot Design), "Waterguardians" (Research), "Aquabots" (Core Values), and Jens Riedel from the "CBB Newcomer" and "CBB Legends" teams (Best Coaching). The ROSEN Group also awarded two special prizes for exceptional solutions. These went to the "GeoRobots" (Can Do) and the "WvSG-Robotics" (Creativity).
FIRST® LEGO® League Explore for junior tinkerers
The day before, the FIRST® LEGO® League Explore was dedicated to very young inventors. In the bilingual elementary school ROBIGS, the children presented their creative ideas in an exhibition – with a research poster and a LEGO model. Each team received a certificate in recognition of their achievement. The regional competition in Lingen (Ems) is organized by the company in cooperation with HANDS on TECHNOLOGY e.V., the official organizer of the FIRST® LEGO® League in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
The teams' placings at a glance:
- FIRST LEGO League Challenge Champion 1st place: FranziRobots 1 (Franziskusgymnasium Lingen)
- FIRST LEGO League Challenge Champion 2nd place: CBB Legends (Campus Berufliche Bildung Grafschaft Bentheim Nordhorn)
- Robot Game: FranziRobots1 (Franziskusgymnasium Lingen)
- Robot Design: CBB Legends (Campus Berufliche Bildung Grafschaft Bentheim Nordhorn)
- Research: Waterguardians (Schönstätter Marienschule Borken)
- Core Values: Aquabots (Schönstätter Marienschule Borken)
- Best Coaching: Jens Riedel (Campus Berufliche Bildung Grafschaft Bentheim Nordhorn)
- ROSEN Special Prize Can Do: GeoRobots (Gymnasium Georgianum)
- ROSEN Special Creativity Award: WvSG-Robotics (Werner-von-Siemens-Gymnasium Gronau)
Pictures: Schöning Fotodesign