Dozens of high school robotics teams across the region are gearing up for competitions in Windsor and London.
This year’s game is “Destination Deep Space” and the aim is for participants to work in alliances to place hatch panels on their rockets and cargo ships, as well as load balls into cargo areas to earn points.
The Windsor Essex Great Lakes District event takes place March 28-30 at the University of Windsor, while the Western University District event runs in London from April 5-7.
The organization FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) runs the events.
Successful teams in the regional competitions move on to the Ontario Provincial Championship in Mississauga from April 11-14. The international competition takes place in Detroit from April 24-27.
Matthew Sterling, a Grade 11 student in Chatham, and build team lead for CK Cyber Pack, explains what the team expects their robot to be able to do.
“Our robot will be able to pick up balls and load them into two different levels. We will also be able to pull hatch panels from a wall chute and pick them up off the ground,” he said.
In the last 30 seconds of the game, robots return to their “habitat,” which has three different levels.
“Our robot transforms into a ramp, enabling another robot to be able to drive on top of us to a 19-inch tall platform,” he said. “We also have special wheels call Mecanum wheels that allow the robot to move in all directions including side to side.”
The Chatham-Kent team is open to all high schools in the municipality.
Last week, all teams had to bag and tag their robots, meaning participants are unable to touch or make further changes to the robots until competition.
Founded in 1989, FIRST’s mission is to “inspire young people to be science and technology leaders and innovators, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication and leadership.”
For more information, visit www.firstinspires.org
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