For Lincoln Barry, a fourth grader at Edison School in Macomb, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of a robotics competition—especially when he comes out on top. "I had a race against one of my friends," he explains, grinning. "We built the same robot, but we wanted to see who could make it move the best."

Lincoln’s journey into robotics started in third grade, but it wasn’t until this year that he truly got to dive into building, coding, and racing machines of his own design. Using LEGO robotics kits, students like Lincoln are learning how to construct moving robots with motors, sensors, and coding software that allows them to program each movement with precision.

"It’s kind of like hacking," Lincoln says with a smirk. "We were supposed to make our robots hop like a frog, but instead, my partner and I figured out a way to make it roll with wheels instead. It was way faster."

Robotics at Edison isn’t just about building and competing—it’s about problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork.

"If you get the build wrong, the robot won’t do what it’s supposed to do," Lincoln explains. "Coding is important, but really, it’s about who builds it right."

That attention to detail helped Lincoln and his partner win their race, even when the competition tried bending the rules. "The other team pushed their robot across the finish line," Lincoln laughs. "That’s cheating!"

Even at a young age, Lincoln understands that robotics teaches more than just technical skills—it builds character. "You have to think through problems, test different solutions, and figure out what works best," he says. "And you have to play fair."

Despite his love for robotics, Lincoln has another passion: football. His dream? To play for the Chicago Bears or the Kansas City Chiefs. "I want to stay around Illinois, but if I had to go somewhere else, maybe the Texans," he says, thinking it over.

But if professional football doesn’t pan out, he’s got a solid backup plan. His mom works for Worldwide Technology, a company focused on coding and tech solutions. "It’s kind of like what we do in robotics," Lincoln says. "Except they don’t build stuff—they just code."

With his natural curiosity, competitive drive, and love for problem-solving, Lincoln has plenty of paths ahead of him. But for now, he’s focused on winning races, building better robots, and maybe—just maybe—beating his friends in the next robotics showdown.