It is that time of year again where high school robotics teams around the region are beginning to strategize what build in order to compete in the nation-wide For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) competition.
Chief Sealth students, also known as team 1039 (www.team1039.org), one of the few local high schools with a team, are working to compete in the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology contest, which involves over 20,000 high schools from around the nation
As reported last year, the competition consists of each team receiving an identical kit of parts, rules to a new game and six weeks to complete a very complex task. Students work with engineering mentors to design and build a robot to play the game, which varies from year to year.
Chief Sealth has an experienced and well-rounded team of 19 students. The Sealth robot always bears the honorary name of Iron Hawk, though each year brings a different design, This will be Sealth's fourth year of competition with the trusty Iron Hawk.
Last year the team took their robot to Portland to compete in a tic-tac-toe-style game. The challenge required the team to construct a robot capable of lifting 9-pound hollow pyramids, or "tetras" made from plastic plumbing pipe and place them on top of larger tetras reaching 10 feet. Aside from the 'tetra' task, the team had to make sure its robot was fast and able to change directions easily. Team 1039 put up a good fight, playing 10 qualifying rounds and making it into the semi finals before elimination.
The Woody Flowers Award, based on student essays, selected an adult mentor who demonstrates excellence in engineering instruction by explaining complex ideas to students in an inspiring way. The judges also choose a mentor who they felt clearly exhibited an understanding of the challenges, opportunities and satisfaction involved in the discipline of engineering and design. While in Atlanta, Ross was recognized as the top respected mentor in the Northwest region.
As the Chief Sealth team prepares for this years challenge, they hope to proceed further toward their goal by putting in more hours in the strategizing stage. With all the enthusiasm involved, there is a high level of confidence. To follow the progress of team 1039 visit the website and watch for future articles about this years challenge and of course the success.
Margo Femiano is a student at Chief Sealth High School and can be reached at wseditor@robinsonnews.com
