40 teams gather at Skyline High School for robotics competition
Willow Run High School senior Edward Calhoun, right, peers into his team's robot as instructor Tommy Means helps the team prepare for their next match at Saturday's robotics competition at Skyline High School.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
Forty teams from throughout the state, including several from Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Chelsea, gathered at Skyline High School to see whose robot reigned supreme.
“It’s the best combination of sports and technology all rolled into one,” David Nolff, the state’s volunteer coordinator, said.
The robots, 28-inch by 38-inch by 60-inch structures of wire and metal, can weigh no more than 120 pounds, excluding batteries and bumpers.
Hundreds of students, parents and supporters filled Skyline’s gym in a massive crowd of cheering and shouting that more closely resembled a basketball game than a science competition.
The day-long event included a series of short matches of a soccer-like game called “Breakaway.” Six robots, divided into two alliances, had to collect as many soccer balls into their goals as possible while climbing bumps and defending their territory against the other alliance.
Though alliances scored points collectively, individual schools are ranked based on their overall score after 12 matches.
“You’ll be playing with this team one match and the next match, playing against them,” Nolff said. “(We call it) ‘coopetition,’ because one moment you’re cooperating and the next moment you’re competing.”
The scene at Skyline High School.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
“It’s hard, but it’s really fun,” sophomore Senait Dafa said. “I just like building stuff.”
Dafa is part of Skyline’s engineering magnet program and said she wants to study science or engineering in college.
Like their Team 830 neighbors — consisting of students from Huron High School, Community High School, Washtenaw Technical Middle College and Skyline High School — Dafa said her team met 6 days a week to prepare, with each student contributing at least 10 hours a week.
Team 830 has been competing since 2002 and was ranking in the top five throughout the day.
Members of the Huron High School Rat Pack 830 robotics team check out their robot after beating another team.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
“I’ve been doing science and engineering since first and second grade,” she said. “This seemed like the logical next step in continuing that.”
Teammate Carl Vitullo, who is a senior at Washtenaw Technical Middle College, said the competition is a lot cooler than it looks.
“If you tell people you’re on a robotics team, they think you’re a bunch of nerds in a basement,” he said. “But when they see the robot, they’re blown away.”
More than 2 dozen different forms of recognition were awarded during the competition. Among the honors for locally based teams:
• Team 66, based at Willow Run High School, was named Winner No. 3 and also took the Team Spirit Award.
• Team 830, based at Huron High School, was named Finalist No. 2 and also took the Judges Award.
• Skyline's Team 3322 won the Rookie All Star Award and Highest Rookie Seed.
Sponsoring organization FIRST — For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology — encourages young people to develop an interest in science and technology through mentoring and programs.
Comments
dAAve
Mon, Mar 15, 2010 : 9:58 a.m.
My son's a 10th grader on the rookie Skyline team 3322 and I help the team as a mentor. None of us had any idea what we were getting into two months ago when we opened box after box of mysterious-looking parts. Watching the kids' confidence grow week by week as the robot came together has been truly inspirational. We've also received tremendous help from the Rat Pack team, who adopted us in the FIRST spirit of "gracious professionalism", giving freely of their time and advice. Our team exceeded it's wildest expectations on Saturday when we won the top rookie honors and qualified for the state championships. It's been a remarkable experience for these kids and I hope this program will become much more widely known. Thanks for covering this.
Haran Rashes
Mon, Mar 15, 2010 : 8:17 a.m.
I am the parent of a student on the Rat Pack, FIRST Robotics Team 830. My son has been involved with the team all four years of his High School career at Huron. FIRST Robotics not only help develop students for careers in technology and engineers, but also helps develop incredible leadership skills. Over his four years of involvement in FIRST Robotics, I have seen my sons leadership skills grow and develop and those of his other senior teammates. While the team is mentored by a very capable group of primarily University of Michigan College of Engineering students, the High School Seniors on the team serve as junior mentors and are guiding and developing the leadership, business, engineering and technical skills of their younger teammates to ensure that the team is successful for years to come.
alarictoo
Mon, Mar 15, 2010 : 8 a.m.
I was there for a few of hours with my 9 year old. The gym was packed, as were the hallways around the "pit" area. Very much had the atmosphere of a larger sporting event (they had set up rear-projection screens and were streaming video; pumping music through the audio system, etc.). The only scary part was "The Macarena"...;^)
Michigan_Jayhawk
Sun, Mar 14, 2010 : 10:58 a.m.
Bruce, The first 15 seconds of the match, the robots opperate in and autonomous mode. the next two minutes, they are controlled by the students.
Bruce Loos
Sun, Mar 14, 2010 : 10:37 a.m.
Just curious. Are the robots taught to play the game without real-time, human interface? Or, are they being controlled by students while the game is in play?
Jens Zorn
Sun, Mar 14, 2010 : 8:38 a.m.
I agree with Anonymous and EmSayin that the article is a good step in motivating this important, creative activity. It would also be good to give some publicity ahead of time so that the rest of us could make plans to be among the spectators.
Dr. I. Emsayin
Sun, Mar 14, 2010 : 8:35 a.m.
Robotics teams are a hidden gem in our high schools. Parents of high schoolers who are looking for ways to get their children involved should consider the robotics club. The advisers teach, help, coach and create a friendly atmosphere where kids feel welcomed. The "big" high schools offer many activities that give young people a second home. Students need to take advantage of these opportunities rather than fleeing to private and designer schools. Also, the "big" high schools need to make a dedicated time of the school day for clubs to meet so that students CAN be involved. Some districts offer an activity period during the day two days a week with a late start or time allotted between class periods for clubs, which are mandatory. Parents need to get involved on their school's school improvement teams (SIT) so they can have input about how to deliver extra-curricular activities. If schools have one lunch, students can participate during lunch time, but if there are multiple lunch periods, many students will be closed out of clubs.
Anonymous Due to Bigotry
Sun, Mar 14, 2010 : 1:02 a.m.
It's good to see that something like this actually gets some press. It's strange how even though this kind of competition is more relevant to modern society than athletic competition, it's athletics that still get most of the attention.