[ot-caption title=”One of the revised robots following the first match of the FTC season. (via Carsen Coggeshall, junior)”]

The recently formed Pine Crest iLab has already given birth to three robotics teams, each of who competed in their first competition on November 21^st. After weeks of practice and preparation, two out of the three teams placed placed within the top 10 teams at the competition at Western High School in Weston, FL.

The girls’ team is called the Crown Joules and the boys’ team was given the name Shark Beta. Captains of the teams are Jessica Freidman and Wyatt Ross, respectively. The two teams took different approaches to the task with Shark Beta using treads for movement and sitting lower to the ground. Crown Joules took a boxier approach with four inflated rubberized wheels.  The diversity of robots demonstrates the creative potential of such an engineering lab. Evidently, both robots had qualities that lead to success in the competition, and now, they must once again prove their greatness at their second competition that will take place on December 12^th. Below is a video of the actual task that the robots must be able to complete in order to have success in the FTC competition.

With some key knowledge and experience gained from the previous competition, the teams are looking to perform even better on the next one. Under the direction of Mr. Delgado and Mr. Trask, the teams are poised to secure a position at the state level FTC competition that will be judged based on the teams’ performances in the upcoming matches. Points are awarded on a number of levels, and the robot’s completion of the task is not the singular measure of their success. Components like an engineering notebook and accompanying video are necessary for the success of each team and securing a spot at states. Hopefully, the upcoming competitions will prove equally if not more fruitful for the PC robotics teams as designs are tweaked and mechanical, electrical, and programming alterations are made.

Sources: FIRST, Western High Photo Source: FIRST Video Source: YouTube