Lift, rack and roll is the mantra of the Shenendehowa High School robotics team as they gear up for a national robotics competition known as FIRST — For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology — that will take place in Atlanta, April 12 to 14.
`The kids are very excited [to compete for the national title],` said team advisor Rose Barra. `Just last week, two students were asked to make a presentation to the state Assembly.`
The Shenendehowa team, known as `Team 20: The Rocketeers,` recently shipped their robot, Spyder, to Atlanta after participating in the regional competition in Hartford, Conn. last month. Robots will take over the Georgia Dome when Team 20 competes with 340 robotics teams from across the country for the national title.
`It’s a huge event,` Barra said. `It’s really an international competition. There are teams from around the world.`
In a game called `Rack and Roll,` teams must get their robots to lift and place inner tubes on a multi-tiered rack system for points.
`It’s like three-dimensional tic-tac-toe,` Barra said.
Though the task may sound simple, Barra said that winning involves some luck. Richard Kissane, who advises Team 1493 from Albany High School, agreed.
`It depends on who you get as a partner,` Kissane said.
At the regional robotics competition in Hartford, Team 20 placed 18th among 49 teams.
`We were in the middle,` Barra said. We knew we had a pretty good robot, but we didn’t have good luck.`
Team 20’s luck turned around after Team 1493 chose the Rocketeers as a partner for the elimination round of the regional competition. According to Kissane, the alliance placed second. `It was the most exciting moment,` Barra said. `There was this gasp. The alliance fostered stronger ties between the two FIRST robotics teams.`
Additionally, Team 20 impressed the judges with its unique robotic arm controller and won the Delphi Driving Tomorrow’s Technology Award. According to Barra, the award honors high-quality robot design and the students’ ability to articulate the design to judges.
Barra said that Shenendehowa High School automatically qualifies for the FIRST robotics championship because it is one of the first 28 teams to participate in the FIRST robotics program.
Established in 1992, Team 20 boasts 60 students. Barra said that many students who participate in the program at Shenendehowa High School go on to pursue degrees in science and technology.
`One is going to Clarkson University,` she said.
While the FIRST robotics program was established to motivate young people to pursue opportunities in science and technology, Team 20 mentor and Shenendehowa High School alum Brendan Brader, said that the program has taught students how to work in teams.
`It helps them with the teamwork aspect of things,` said Brader, who is CEO of HostRocket.com and ViaTalk.
Winning aside, Barra said that she wants the students to have a good time. `It’s the last time for seniors to participate,` she said. `Though our sponsors would love us to win, I also want the kids to have a good time.` “