Bot-building

From Jan. 4 to Feb. 17, robotics team members work around the clock to finish building their robot. For the six weeks of build season, the robotics shop remains open for four hours after school on weekdays and for eight hours on Saturdays. Members often squeeze in homework assignments while waiting in the shop, while parent volunteers bring snacks and dinner.

This year’s FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition) challenge, Recycle Rush, is a recycling-themed game played by two alliances of three robots each on a large rectangular playing field. The game consists of robots scoring points by stacking totes on scoring platforms, capping them with recycling containers, and depositing pool noodles that represent litter within them. In keeping with the theme of recycling, teams can reuse or recycle all of the game pieces at the end of the season.

Each robotics member belongs to one of four sub-teams, three of which involve engineering and building the robot. Members of the mechanical and electrical sub-teams spend their time in the machine shop, milling parts and wiring components. Members of the programming sub-team write and test the code that controls the robot.

“We have an autonomous period where the robot has prebuilt code that it has to run for a 15-second period. In that time period, you have to make sure it’s coded to be able to see whatever target you want it to see, reach the target and move it to its proper location,” VP of Operations Neymika Jain (10) said. “Then there’s the teleop period, where the human player goes ahead and moves the robot.

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