The First Robotics Competition (FRC) for this year called Logomotion was held at the Thomas & Mack Center amid enthusiastic student participants. The competition was a platform for the students to test their science, maths, technology and engineering skills. The participants were from the Coronado High School Robotics Club consisting of 25 members.
Teams gear up their robots to compete with each other April 1 at the FIRST Robotics Competition at the Thomas & Mack Center
The club organises a meeting at the beginning of the school year to discuss and train themselves in the safety procedures, learn about the new tools and computer aided designing. They practice by building small robots. They gear up for the FRC by beginning work on the robot that would take part in the competition, six weeks before the competition. There is a workshop at the back of their school where they built their robots using chop saws, arc welders and other tools. Myles Putnam is the president of the Club and he is in charge of wiring the robots. He explained that the arm of the robot is the most fascinating part and it is controlled using pneumatics, which allows for faster movement. Another senior member of the Club explained that at the time of building the robot, the members meet after school and during weekends they work from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. Their computer teacher, Sam Winn, regarded the club activities and FRC as the best way to promote their technology and engineering skills.
Putnam explained the competition rules thus; the robots would have to pick various inflatable shapes and place them on the corresponding racks for scoring points. Additionally, there would be an opportunity to send in a mini robot that would climb a vertical pole that is 10 ft high to score extra points. The event brings out the team spirit and the technological expertise of the students to the fore.