The Chelsea High School FIRST Robotics Team 1502 Technical Difficulties attended their second competition of the season last weekend at Mason High School and advanced to the State Championships.
FIRST, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, is an international program that works to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) through the creation of high school robotics teams.
This year’s game, Recycle Rush, is played by two competing alliances of three robots each. The objective of the game is to stack totes, recycling bins, and pool noodles in certain formations. Points are awarded based on the height and order of the stacks. Additional points can be earned by working with robots on the opposing alliance to stack yellow totes in a certain “shared” area. The first day and a half consists of qualification matches that determine the top eight teams. These teams then each get to select two additional teams to join them. These top eight alliances then face off in the quarter, semi, and finals to determine the overall winning alliance.
The team ended the qualification matches ranked 6th. Through the alliance selection process they moved up to become the number 4 alliance captain and selected team 4776, the S.C.O.T.S. Bots of Howell, and team 3667, the Mecanum Knights of Port Huron, to join them. The alliance fought hard but lost in the quarter finals.
FIRST is about more than just robots and rewards teams for things other than robot ability. The team won one such award, The Chairman’s Award, which is considered to be the most prestigious award at FIRST and guarantees the winning team at each competition a spot at the State Championships.
To qualify for this award a team must submit an essay, a video, a short summary, and give a presentation, as to how they “best represent a model for other teams to emulate and best embody the purpose and goals of FIRST”.
The sub team that worked to achieve this award consists of Kyle Kubicki and Anne Findlay who will now give their presentation once more for the opportunity to represent Michigan at the World Championships.
This is the first district Chairman’s Award that the team has won and they wish to thank everyone who has helped them get to this point. They would like to especially thank the FCA Foundation, which has supported them since their inception, along with MEGS, Toyota, Precise Metal Components Inc., Roberts Paint and Body, Chelsea Tool, Ziel Industries, The Chelsea Education Foundation, 80/20 Inc, and Mike’s Home Repair, as well as all the sponsors, parents, mentors, and all other supporters of the team.
Additionally, the team welcomes everyone to join them at the State Championships to be held in Grand Rapids at the DeltaPlex Arena, on April 9-11. Admission is free.
To learn more about CHS Robotics click here.
Absolutely AMAZING! Way to go Chelsea Robotics!