Spike tackles some impressive competition this week when the Esquimalt High Atom Smasher pits the robot against the best in the west.
Spike and his team will take centre stage a few times as more than 1,500 students, teachers, mentors, parents and robotics enthusiasts fill Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre for the FRC Pacific Regional competition.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the first time itB次元官网网址檚 going to happen in B.CB次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 going to be really exciting,B次元官网网址� says Oak Bay resident Zachariah Mears, captain of the Esquimalt Atom Smashers team. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 going to be 32 teams each with their own big robot. WeB次元官网网址檙e a rookie team so this is our first time doing it but thereB次元官网网址檚 also going to be some more experienced teams and great people coming.B次元官网网址�
The team have had six weeks to design, build, and program their 120 pound robot that competes at the FIRST Robotics Regional Championship this week.
B次元官网网址淥ur big goal is if we can win, we get to go to Houston (Texas) for the World Championships, but weB次元官网网址檙e just looking forward to having a lot of fun and seeing what other teams have come up with,B次元官网网址� Zachariah says.
The Esquimalt High team came to be after a sponsor came forward, students pulled together to build a team. About half that team showed the robot off for the technology class at ZachariahB次元官网网址檚 alma mater Monterey Middle School on Friday. The team was allowed only to show off Spike, not work on the robot in advance of the competition. Spike is heavily 3-D printed.
Vaughn Scott of Esquimalt learned Java programming just to be part of the project.
B次元官网网址淲e had a mentor who actually helped us out wit the coding and what not,B次元官网网址� Scott says, during the Monterey demonstration. B次元官网网址淪ome of it was quite advanced for us.B次元官网网址�
It was an interesting learning experience, with a lot of trial and error, he said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a great learning experience for me, IB次元官网网址檝e always been interested in programming but never actually got to program something physical,B次元官网网址� Vaughn said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 my first time actually seeing my programming do something and I love it. ItB次元官网网址檚 one of those things where I write it all on the screen and t best it and watching it move is such a great experience. I know I did that, I wrote the code for that and the reason itB次元官网网址檚 moving is me.B次元官网网址�
Though heB次元官网网址檚 quick to point out, thereB次元官网网址檚 nothing to move without those who built Spike. ItB次元官网网址檚 a total team effort with students from Grade 9 through 12 working together to tackle problems.
B次元官网网址淵ou make a lot of friends through it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a beautiful learning experience and a lot of fun.B次元官网网址�
In a match, two alliances, teams of three robots face off for two minutes and 30 seconds with the first 15 seconds autonomous before a driver takes over to control each robot. The teams tackle a number of different challenges to earn points.
The FIRST Robotics Competition starts Thursday, March 15 at 10 a.m. and qualification matches to 5 p.m. Friday, March 16 opening ceremonies are at 8:30 a.m. with matches from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 8 p.m. at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard St. Teams from Belmont and Spectrum secondary schools will also compete against students from all over B.C. and Alberta, with international teams coming from as far as Mexico.
Learn more about FIRST Robotics Canada at .
