The Võru Nuti-Võlur Robotics School team crowned as one of the champions

The Võru Nuti-Võlur Robotics School team has been crowned one of the Estonian champions in the FIRST LEGO League Estonia competition – and their journey was inspired by marine research and supported by scientists from the Estonian Marine Institute (EMI), University of Tartu (UTARTU).

Võru robotics team Nuti-Võlur crowned Estonian champions – With support from our Interreg CB Re:Fish project UTARTU scientists’ team. The team explored the challenges faced by marine researchers and drew inspiration from Re:Fish, an Interreg Central Baltic co-funded project focused on environmentally responsible recreational fishing, where UTARTU is one of the project partners.

Our UTARTU EMI project team helped guide the students by framing their research problem and connecting them with the right experts. For the competition, themed “Submerged”, the young innovators created a smart buoy prototype that allows fishers to monitor weather conditions near their fishing nets in real-time. The data is sent directly to a mobile phone, allowing fishers to react promptly to worsening weather and retrieve their gear—preventing net loss at sea.

In late March, the team advanced from the Estonian finals with an upgraded version of their prototype, earning the prestigious title of Estonian champions. They will now represent Estonia on the international stage – either in the USA or Greece.

The students have also kept a journal of their journey, which you can read in Estonian.