In recent weeks, Falls Church City Public Schools students have been participating on various teams in Regional FIRST Lego League robotics tournaments, with half advancing to state competition.

This year’s challenge was to research solutions to natural disaster recovery and design a robotic prototype to meet those needs.

The following teams are headed to the state tournament on Dec. 7: Like-A-Bot (Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School), Great White Gears (MEH), and Brick Beast (Thomas Jefferson Elementary School). S.W.A.T. (MEH) is a state alternate team.

Other FCCPS teams competing in the regional competition were Globo-Robo and Toaster Rebellion, which picked up a Best Design trophy during the event.