Clarkston High School’s Team RUSH is heading to Detroit with a mechanized catapult designed to launch 40-inch projectiles.
They aren’t going to storm the city. The FIRST Robotics team is set to take on high schoolers from around the state in competition.
The team sent off the robot with a ceremony this past Monday for supporters.
‘This is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our new robot to our sponsors, the families of our team members, school administrators, and others in the community who have supported us during the build season,? said Kyle Hughes, Team RUSH coach. ‘We owe them a great deal of thanks and gratitude for helping to make this possible.?
The team had six weeks, Jan. 4 to Feb. 19, to design, test, and build their robot. Team RUSH built two of them.
“We ship one and use the other as a test subject, for practice,” said Michael Schreiber, captain of the above-chassis and catapult sub-team. “Most teams don’t make two robots.”
This year’s challenge requires robots to knock 40-inch, inflated game balls off a bridge overpass and carry them around a 27-by-54 foot track. Extra points are awarded for making the ball go over the bridge while driving under it, and placing the ball back on the overpass at the end of the 2-minute, 15-second match.
Computer animations produced by FIRST Robotics feature robots with forklift-like and multijointed, clawed arms, but Team RUSH took a different approach.
Instead of picking the ball up, carrying it over the bridge, and dropping it on the other side, they’re just going to shoot it over.
“Shooting the ball is more beneficial because you don’t have to stop,” said Devon Rehm, team co-captain and catapult chair.
After testing and prototypes, RUSH decided to go with a rubber-band powered catapult, arching the ball over the bridge, 6 1/2 feet above the track.
Launching the ball straight from the robot, like a slingshot, was considered but rejected, Rehm said.
“We decided that would take too much force,” she said.
Each band, made of surgical tubing, can deliver 50 pounds of force. Their robot uses eight of them.
Springs were considered but rejected, she said.
“They weigh a lot more, and the tubing is interchangeable,” Rehm said.
The robot is equipped with a tree-harvester-type arm for knocking the ball off the bridge, and rollers to pick it up and hold it for carrying.
“No flimsy claws,” Schreiber said. “It’s based on a design we used two years ago ? we know it works because we did it before.”
The team also earns points for each lap around the track, so speed is a priority this year, said Matt Buckley, co-captain.
“Movement is especially important,” Buckley said.
The team’s 35 members, mentors and coaches spent 3-5 hours a day, more on weekends, designing, testing, and assembling the machines, Hughes said.
‘This team is not for the faint of heart,? she said. ‘It requires high level math, science and technology skills, problem solving abilities, and above all, stamina. I am so proud of these kids. What they accomplish in six short weeks is nothing short of amazing.?
Technical pojects so far include creating a new kill switch to cut radio communications between driver and robot; mastering proportional-integral-derivative controllers; and designing movable solar panels.
“The panels will help charge the robot,” said Buckley, in charge of the solar-panel project. “I like how the robot’s looking. We have a great robot this year. We’re hoping to win some technical awards.”
Throughout the season, the team dedicated their efforts to the memory of their former teammate John LaFata, who passed away unexpectedly in October.
‘This year our robot is dedicated to John, and we plan to win the world championships in his honor,? Rehm said.
Their uniforms include armbands sewn into the sleeves in memory of their teammate.
Team RUSH, which stands for Respect, Unity, Spirit, and Heart, still needs donations. They lost a major sponsor this year due to economic downturns, so they are $9,000 short of their goal, Hughes said.
The team is completely self-funded, and each student pays $500 to participate. Without the money, they will not be able to compete in the World Championships. Anyone interested in donating should contact Shannon Moegling, office 734-254-4395, or cell 248-302-6823.
Competition starts March 6-8 in Detroit. For more information, visit their website at TeamRush27.net.