Goodrich-A battle is brewing between robots the world over? and some area high school students are hoping to be right in the middle of it.
The Goodrich FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology) Robotics team is has readied their creation for competition.
Team leader Patrick Majors explained the object of FIRST is to build a robot capable of competitively performing certain tasks.
A game is revealed to FIRST teams the first week of January. To win the game, teams must build the robot most capable of meeting specified requirements.
This year’s game involves firing nerf balls into both ground level and raised targets for points. Robots must maintain accuracy in the midst of competing robots defensive tactics, which include pushing and shoving. Two teams of robots square off in the area, with two or three robots on a team.
After the game is revealed, teams are given kits including software and an on-board system to build their robot. Students are then given six weeks to formulate and execute a plan for their bot.
‘Week one we will brainstorm and try to decide what’s the most advantageous part of the game to attack,? said Majors.
Next, students and mentors work together, deciding how a robot would accomplish the tasks.
After six weeks of intensive development have passed, FIRST teams begin competing
Students travel to Cleveland, Milwaukee and Grand Rapids to see how their robot measures up to the competition.
Majors is confident about their odds.
‘I think we’ve got a very good chance,? said Majors.
After watching his team win first place out of more than 1,000 teams in 2004, he knows what it takes to bring home the trophy.
He said the experience of watching those kids win in front of an audience of 30,000 was unforgettable for both him and them.
Though there is no cash prize for the competition, Majors said the bragging rights earned by a win are invaluable.
A new twist to this year’s game came with the addition of a second team at Goodrich High School.
With 37 students’more than 5 percent of the GHS student body? enrolled in the program, Majors worried participants weren’t getting enough hands-on opportunities.
The decision was made to create a second team, which Majors said has led to some good- natured teasing. Majors said the teams will likely compete against one-another at some point and along side each other at another.
‘I look forward to having both teams together and both teams separate,? said Majors.
Majors said their are some misconceptions about the FIRST program.
People ‘think you just build robots. That’s really not what it’s all about,? said Majors.
He explained students learn about problem-solving and gain valuable hands-on experience that is transferable to many real-life situations.
Additionally, students are eligible to win scholarships. Majors said a different member of the GHS FIRST team has won a $20,000 scholarship to Kettering Univeristy for the past four consecutive years.
FIRST was ‘designed to get people excited about science and engineering,? Majors said. ‘There’s a lot of very powerful support for this program.?
Majors is looking forward to the game.
‘I’m very excited about the robot we’ve shipped this year, ‘said Majors. ‘I expect to finish in the top 10-percent of teams.?
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