MONTH IN LOUISVILLE. JOHN: IT SHOOTS PLASTIC BALLS, FLIPS OVER CAPS, AND IS SUPPOSED TO CLIMB ON THESE PLATFORMS, BUT THIS ROBOT IS A WORK IN PROGRESS FOR THESE BOB JONES ACADEMY 7TH AND 8TH GRADERS. >> ROBOTICS IS THIS FUN, INTERACTIVE BUILDING EXPERIENCE. WE GET TO BUILD OUR ROBOTS, PROGRAM THEM, AND THEN WE ACTUALLY GET TO COMPETE. IT’S A LOT OF FUN TO JUST GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS. [CHEERING] JOHN: EARLIER THIS MONTH THEY BEAT OUT 49 OTHER TEAMS TO WIN THE SOUTH CAROLINA CHAMPIONSHIP. >> IT WAS OUR FIRST TIME EVER BEING UNDEFEATED, AND IN A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP THAT’S VERY UNLIKELY. JOHN: UNLIKELY FOR A TEAM THAT’S ONLY BEEN AROUND FOR TWO YEARS. THE 13 TEAM MEMBERS SPEND TWO DAYS A WEEK AFTER SCHOOL WORKING ON THEIR ROBOTS, ALWAYS TRYING TO MAKE THEM WORK BETTER TEACHER: WINNING FIRST AT THE STATE MAYBE WAS NOT WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. WE THOUGHT IT COULD HAPPEN, BUT IT DID HAPPEN. JOHN: NOW THE TEAM IS THINKING ABOUT A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP COMING UP NEXT MONTH IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, BUT IT WILL BE TOUGH GOING UP AGAINST 184 MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAMS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. >>. -- >> IT’S A LOT OF FUN TO JUST BE WITH OTHER MIDDLE SCHOOLERS WORKING. JOHN: AS THEY’RE WORKING ON THEIR ROBOTS, THEY’RE ALSO RAISING MONEY FOR THEIR NEXT COMPETITION, AND THE TEAM DOES NEED SOME HELP TO PAY FOR THE TRIP TO LOUISVILLE. IF YOU’D LIKE TO DONATE, JUST CONTACT THE SCHOOL. JOHN LYON, WYFF NEWS 4, GREENV