Have you met Spike?
HeB次元官网网址檚 the robot designed, engineered, built and driven entirely by the , a group of Esquimalt High students who are en route to Houston, Texas to compete in the FIRST Robotics World Championship.
The Atom Smashers took home the Rookie All Star Award in their first attempt behind the controls at the B.C. Regional competition last week at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, qualifying to compete against teams from all over the world next month in Texas.
B次元官网网址淚 call us the little team that could,B次元官网网址� says Tina OB次元官网网址橩eefe, the SmashersB次元官网网址� lead coach and a computer science teacher at Esquimalt High, the school with the smallest team and the biggest win.
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The whole thing started when FIRST Robotics made a presentation at the school and shortly after, OB次元官网网址橩eefe was approached by one of her particularly tech-savvy students, who asked if they could implement the program at their school.
She told him he had two hours to find eight more interested students and sheB次元官网网址檇 consider it B次元官网网址� he came back with 13 a half hour later.
The competition, hosted by international youth organization, FIRST (For Inspiration, Recognition of Science and Technology) drew teams with an average of 20 students. The Atom Smashers crushed the competition with just 12 of them.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a lot of strategy, a lot of team-building skills,B次元官网网址� OB次元官网网址橩eefe says, in addition to the science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) skills the students put to use.
Check out our page and donate to help us get to the Houston world championships!
B次元官网网址� Esquimalt Atom Smashers (@EsqAtomSmashers)
FIRST Robotics provided a basic kit that, combined with the studentsB次元官网网址� ingenuity would eventually turn into Spike, the armed robot. Local businesses also chipped in, offering tools, safety goggles, paint and even some tips on mechanics.
Competition was fierce and exciting, OB次元官网网址橩eefe says, but not without its challenges. At the last minute, the team had to borrow a motor for one of SpikeB次元官网网址檚 arms after one blew.
B次元官网网址淭hese were the kinds of things we had to problem-solve,B次元官网网址� OB次元官网网址橩eefe says. B次元官网网址淓verybodyB次元官网网址檚 in there with a drill, everybodyB次元官网网址檚 making things happen.B次元官网网址�
As an educator, she says, itB次元官网网址檚 been a phenomenal experience.
Before the team heads to Houston April 18 to 21, () theyB次元官网网址檙e hitting the ground to fundraise for the trip, partially funded by FIRST. A page has been set up as well as a on the .
B次元官网网址淎 lot of sweat and grit went into this, but they made it,B次元官网网址� OB次元官网网址橩eefe says. B次元官网网址淭o me itB次元官网网址檚 no different than winning a seat to nationals for basketball. They deserve to be where they are.B次元官网网址�
