A SINGAPORE team recently became the first non-Americans to win an international robotics competition in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States.

Students from Singapore Chinese Girls' School (SCGS), River Valley High and Juying Primary topped 81 others to emerge winners at the First Lego League World Festival.

The competition, which is in its 10th year, challenges students to design and build robots that can complete a series of tasks.

In line with this year's theme on environmental issues, the students had to programme their robots, for example, to place a solar panel on the roof of a model house and push a coal cart down a train track.

They also had to make a presentation on a research topic and suggest ways to lower household electricity bills.

The competition was held last month.

SCGS student Michelle Tee said that the team was initially intimidated by the high standards of the other competitors.

'We didn't think we would win. The other countries were very good and it was our first time,' said Ms Tee, 15.

She said the judges were impressed by their innovative presentation on energy conservation which they presented as a song.

The team's robot performed very well too, receiving a perfect score during one of the runs.