UW-Madison’s robotics team had always been Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition underdogs, but this year the team surprised themselves with a first-place win in the design contest.

Judges said their robot, Paradroid, was the most original and practical robot at the competition at Oakland University in Rochester, Mich. Paradroid also made the top 10 in navigation and autonomous challenges.

“The design contest was a powerful moment for the entire team,” said Ken Leedle, an electrical and computer engineering student, and the leader for the team’s electrical group.

Leedle said he expects team numbers to grow next year, when the group plans to design and build a companion robot for Paradroid for the 2010 IGVC.

Other team members are Ted Steiner, Patrick Blesi, Emily Doberstein, Benjamin Frisch, Elise Gale, Wes Miller, Chad Rhyner, Nick Rolling, Sam Roth and Daniel Wright.

Read the On Campus blog: www.madison.com/wsj/blogs/oncampus/