Freshmen Cole Bellomo and Andrew Carpender work on wiring their robot in the beginning Robotics class. photo by Jordan Prochnow
TJ’s Robotics classes gear up for this year’s challenges.
Upon entering one of TJ’s two robotics classrooms, visitors are greeted by robots spinning in circles, students rummaging in tool kits, and the whirring of motors. TJ’s robotics classes are preparing for two major competitions this year, the First Tech Challenge (FTC), and First Robotics Challenge (FRC), and it’s no easy task.
The beginning robotics classes are currently preparing for the First Tech Challenge, and TJ will be sending 10 teams to compete this fall. Competitors will be decided by in-class competitions, where the best teams will progress to the main competition. Every year, there is a big game reveal, via live broadcast to teams around the nation.
“This year’s challenge seems more complicated than previous games,” said robotics teacher Eileen Adair, who attended the Colorado kickoff with students on September 12. “Every year seems impossible when the game is revealed, but it’s amazing what a couple weeks of work and a lot of really smart students put together, and I know we will be rise to the occasion again.” This year, teams will compete in “First Res-Q,” a game in which the robots must be able to drive up a ramp, hang from a bar, and collect balls and boxes to put in goals. Each robot will have the same basic chassis and design, but each team will modify their designs based on their own ideas and strategies. Many of the students have little to no experience in robotics, but the competitions will prove to be an exciting challenge. “I would say the biggest challenge is programming, because it’s a new idea that a lot of us haven’t explored yet,” said Lauren Pate, a sophomore in the beginning robotics class. “It’s the beginning and it’s about learning what you enjoy and learning more about your partner and how you can work together to achieve great things.” While the tasks may seem daunting, the robotics classes are excited and ready to compete this fall.
Coupled with FTC, the First Robotics Challenge (FRC) allows advanced robotics students to have a chance at a more complex competition. The kick-off will occur in January, where the objective is revealed. Teams then have six weeks to build their robots and to practice before “Bag and Tag Day,” where the bots can no longer be modified and must be placed in a plastic covering. TJ’s teams, however, opted to build a second model of the robot, allowing for more time to practice. This limited time span creates an intense environment, placing lots of pressure on the students. “There’s a pretty limited amount of time that you have to get ready,” explained Colton Hook, a junior and FRC competitor. “There’s a lot of pressure and not a lot of time to go through multiple designs, so you have to find one and go for it.” The event takes place in March at DU’s Magness Arena, where the competition takes place over the span of three days. Thousands of people come out to support their teams each year, complete with costumes, noisemakers, and banners to show team spirit. Janie Eslinger, a senior and three-time participant in FRC, fondly remembers her time spent at the competitions. “FRC is a really unique experience. You get to meet people from all different backgrounds and you learn from everyone you meet. It’s a lot of fun.”
Being a part of TJ’s robotics community has played a large part in many lives, whether it be instructors, current TJ students, or graduates. To many students, robotics has proved to be one of the best parts of the school day, providing a supportive and creative environment to plan, design, or build. “After school, I could let my creativity and desire to build run wild, and work on skills that would prove to be useful later on in life,” remarked recent TJ graduate Peter Golledge. “I built a very strong net of friends in the robotics club, and it made my high school experience much more positive.” Due to his four years spent in robotics, Golledge was inspired to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. The instructors also have a special place in their hearts for the program, and are proud of how far the program has come. “We’ve expanded a ton, and we’ve gone from the equipment we started with to a major upgrade in software, equipment, and how we build things,” said Sara Andolsek, CCT Pro Tech and robotics coach. The program is also striving to make sure that everyone knows the building process and all the parts needed to build, which is vital to the competitions.
No matter what the task, TJ’s robotics classes are always up for a challenge. This year’s competitions are sure to be an exciting and nerve-wracking time for all, and the teams are ready to represent TJ with their impressive robots.
For more information about the competitions, visit http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms.
