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Career magnet school learns plenty from FIRST robotics competition [Public Opinion, Chambersburg, Pa. :: ](Public Opinion (Chambersburg, PA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) July 27--CHAMBERSBURG -- Chambersburg Career Magnet School's robotics Team 4615, called Steel Trojans, ended its 2013-14 season by competing in March in the 2014 FIRST Robotics Eastern Regional Competition, which took place at University of California, Pennsylvania. This was the team's second year to build a robot to compete in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) contests. This year, the task was titled "Aerial Assist." Teams were to design and build a robot to pick up 2-foot diameter exercise balls and throw them into different height goals. The Steel Trojans placed 39th out of 48 teams. Patrick Doyle is the team captain. "Our team didn't fare out as well due to networking issues with our robot," wrote Lonnie Doyle, mechanical team mentor and Patrick's father. "Although we did not place as well as our first year, we feel that the team learned a lot more about robotics and about the team." In its first year, Team 4615 was to design and build a robot to throw Frisbees into slots at various heights within a planned court, along with five other teams. The team placed 19th out of 45 teams during the qualifying rounds. To learn more about steel Trojans and the FIRST program, visit www.frcteam4615.weebly.com. Sponsors who supported and contributed to the competition are Fayetteville Contractors Inc., L/B Water Service Incorporated, Penn State Mont Alto, Foxhole Technology: Mission Essential, T.E. Connectivity, JLG Industries, Volvo Construction Equipment, Vacon Incorporated, Cracker Barrel (Chambersburg), Chambersburg Machine Company Inc., and Manitowoc Cranes. FIRST was founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen with the purpose of giving high school students the opportunity to gain experience working alongside mentors from the engineering and science fields while learning to use industry standard tools, equipment, and software. Students learn computer programming, physics, pneumatics, electrical, mechanical, and structural engineering. Each year, competition begins the first week in January with a six-week time frame to design, build, test and be ready to compete with a robot, using a standard "Kit of parts" and a common set of rules designed by a committee of engineers and other professionals. These 120 pound robots are used in annual competitions that involve completing a specific task, in the form of a game. ___ (c)2014 the Public Opinion (Chambersburg, Pa.) Visit the Public Opinion (Chambersburg, Pa.) at www.publicopiniononline.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |