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BFHS First Robotics Team 2130 Alpha+ kicks off
11th Season |
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January 24, 2017 |
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| Kickoff
attendees watching the game animation to
get started on another award-winning
season. |
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By Rayan Naylor
BFHS FIRST Robotics Team 2130 Alpha+ began its
eleventh season at the start of the school year.
FIRST Robotics enables students to access
cutting edge technology, use sophisticated
hardware, and develop strong teamwork skills,
while working with a group of skilled mentors.
For more information about FIRST Robotics, go to
http://www.firstinspires.org.
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| Team 2130
Alpha+ members testing a prototype for
the robot's ball shooter. |
On Saturday, January 7, students, mentors,
parents, teachers, alumni and guests gathered
for the 2017 FIRST Robotics Competition Kickoff
and the much anticipated animation video for
this year’s game, FIRST Steamworks.
The game highlights an era in which technology
relied on steam power to fly its airships. Each
three-team alliance scores points by collecting
fuel (whiffle balls) to build steam pressure,
installing gears to engage motors and boarding
robots onto their airships.
At the end of each match, the alliance with the
highest score earns the win.
The FIRST Steamworks game animation can be
viewed by
clicking here.
After the broadcast, participants formed small
groups to brainstorm game strategies, and later
came together to make presentations.
Everyone left the Kickoff enthusiastic about our
new challenge. We are only provided with a very
basic Kit of Parts, leaving room for our team to
strategize, design, prototype, build and program
our own unique robot. Our team now has a strict
six-week timeline and on Tuesday, February 21,
our robot must be “bagged and tagged” until we
arrive at the competition.
We are currently in the design and prototyping
phase of the six-week build season. Student team
members are working side-by-side with our
talented and dedicated mentors as we create this
year’s robot. Our business team continues to
write sponsor letters, complete grant proposals,
write award essays and update our social media
sites.
For more information on our team’s progress,
please visit our Facebook page, “FIRST Team
2130” and our website,
www.bfhsrobotics.com.
This year we will be returning to the Western
Canada Regional in Calgary, Alberta, from April
5-8, where we will be competing against teams
from Canada, the United States, Mexico,
Australia, China, Turkey, and Poland! The event
will be held in the Olympic Oval at the
University of Calgary. It should be noted that
this is not just a robot driving competition!
At past events, Alpha+ has earned awards for
inspired engineering designs, innovation, and
business planning.
We have also received both mentor and student
recognition for outstanding individual work in
the program. Alpha+ has advanced from regional
competitions to the World Championship four
times thus far. Given our resource constraints
and remote geographic location, we are
especially proud of our accomplishments.
Our team looks forward to all that is in store
for this season, and we have our highest hopes
set on success.
We are immensely grateful for the support and
enthusiasm our local community has shown toward
our team. Team 2130 Alpha+ runs primarily on
donations from generous businesses,
organizations and community members. We would
greatly appreciate any potential support or
sponsorship.
Checks may be made payable to Bonners Ferry High
School Robotics and mailed to Bonners Ferry High
School, 6485 Tamarack Lane, Bonners Ferry, ID
83805.
We thank you for supporting our efforts to
provide students with broader opportunities and
brighter futures.
If you are interested in joining our team as a
student member or mentor, please contact our
Lead Mentor, David Nix at
david.nix@mail.bcsd101.com, for further
information. |
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