Coronado robotics qualifies for nationals again; fundraising for St. Louis trip
Coronado High robotics students built this
arena, using the official dimensions for this year’s FIRST game. It was set up for
an 18-team scrimmage Feb. 20 in the Coronado gym.
Westside Pioneer photo
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A fundraising effort has begun to cover the roughly $20,000 trip costs for the 40-member team April 27-30.
According to faculty advisor Bryce McLean, the team qualified by being awarded the Engineering Inspiration Award during regional competition over the past two months.
The award honors the extracurricular program for outreach efforts to the community, including Coronado's feeder schools.
In robotics, students build a machine that can compete in a timed, small-arena game format based on a design that's devised each January by a national organization called FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). In keeping with that, the robot must be built differently for each new game. For instance, this year's robot needs to be 14 inches tall to get under an obstacle.
Robotics students also set up a corporate structure that coordinates fundraising and community outreach efforts.
This year's Coronado student CEO, senior Ben Fox, said he plans to enroll at Colorado State University and become an electrical engineer. Noting that robotics has been described as a “sport of the mind,” he described it as “way more challenging” than times he's competed athletically. Making a different robot every year takes “a lot of work,” he said.
For more information about donating, the team website page is team2996.com/fundraiser.html.
Westside Pioneer article
(Posted 4/21/16;
Schools:
Coronado High School)
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