For Kaitlyn DiLorenzo — one of five ASU freshmen we're following in periodic photo series "Year One: Life at ASU" — March was a time for total world domination. Well, at least, total domination in the robot ring.
In her Introduction to Engineering course, groups of four students created a robot that would battle it out with other robots in the ring. Teams were given identical Lego robotic kits with only the instruction that the robots be no longer or wider than a foot. The students had to program the robots' movements, to be controlled by keyboard.
DiLorenzo’s group designed their robot, named it John Cena after the professional wrestler and even designed their own fight song that would play when they won. Although they didn’t make it past their first bracket in the competition, they stayed afterward to fight their neighboring team, whom they had been trash-talking with as they built it.
See previous entries in this series:
-
Instructor Michael Clough makes sure the Cena robot is no larger than 12 inches tall or wide before the robots compete in the Intro to Engineering course March 16 in the Brickyard Engineering building on the Tempe campus.
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU Now
-
Kaitlyn DiLorenzo gets excited as she and teammates Dallin Carrell (left) and Mathew Taylor listen to the robot Cena's "battle song."
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU Now
-
DiLorenzo and Dallin Carrell test their robot's strength and dexterity to see whether it can push over a wallet before it competes in the robots' battle.
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU Now
-
Dallin Carrell (left) and DiLorenzo watch as Mathew Taylor tests their robot's controls before the big battle.
Photo by Deanna Deant/ASU Now
-
DiLorenzo watches as teammate Mathew Taylor controls Cena as it gets set for a battle of supremacy against another robot.
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU Now
-
Introduction to Engineering students watch a four-way free-for-all battle of robots.
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU Now
-
Engineering freshmen Mathew Taylor and DiLorenzo watch as they have an impromptu battle with another robot during class.
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU Now
-
DiLorenzo celebrates as her team's robot wins its battle for world domination, or something close to that.
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU Now
More Sun Devil community
Photos: 2025 Tempe Open Door
Arizona State University's 13th year of Open Door events concluded on the Tempe campus on Feb. 22.Snakes, science and little pig tails were just some of the sights and subjects that delighted…
Adventure coaching takes student support outdoors
On a recent sunny morning, a circle of Arizona State University students is flinging colorful balls and toys to each other on a lawn. Each student had to focus on all the items flying through the air…
Photos: 2025 Polytechnic Open Door
Families explored sound, automotive technology and other engineering fun at Saturday's ASU Open Door, where the Polytechnic campus' specialities came into the spotlight.The free annual event welcomes…