CLARION — After weeks of planning and building, the robotics team at Clarion Area High School prepare to test everything this weekend in the Boosting Engineering Science and Technology (BEST) robotics competition on October 21 and 22 at Grove City College.
Hundreds of students, family and friends will cheer their local teams from around 15 different schools in a robot vs robot battle. Don’t forget earplugs on match day, spirit and sportsmanship are also an important part of the competition.
Started by a few engineers from Texas Instruments in 1993, BEST “inspires students to pursue careers in engineering, science, technology, and business by participating in a sports-like, realistic engineering robotics competition.”
But it’s more than just building a robot.
The BEST competition faces a new learning challenge each year and this year’s theme is “Made 2 Order”, with a focus on supply chain optimization.
Working with an industry theme, the Clarion team chose their project name as “overhaul,” which is defined as “a comprehensive examination of machinery or a system, with repairs or changes made if necessary.”
In keeping with the theme of Global Challenge, Clarion has chosen the current shipping crisis as its focus.
From day one in September until competition day, Clarion’s robotics team meets about five times a week for two and a half hours each day.
Starting with the same supplies, each team in the competition has to adhere to the guidelines but can use their creative license to make their robots unique.
“It took about 16 people to build[the robot],” said Gabriel Martz, one of the newbies on the engineering team.
The robot will move boxes and place electronics to show a better way to sort items shipped to customers from large warehouses like Amazon.
“We’re trying to show why using robots is more efficient than humans,” said Delaney McNamara. “Trying to sell consistency. Humans can make human mistakes, robots have more accuracy.”
In addition to its robotics team, Clarion Area High School also has a robotics class, which started about four years ago and is taught by Brian Burford. It was one of the first robotics classes in the area.
“It’s a very good learning opportunity for the kids,” said Burford, who is also a consultant for the robotics team. “(The robotics team) helps the kids prepare for the future. They are a great crew to work with”
The presence of the robotics class also allows them to do more.
“Time is our biggest enemy,” McNamara said.
“During the robotics separation, we get a lot of busy jobs done, and we make small changes that take time, for example sanding each tooth (gear) so it meshes better,” said Martz.
Teams also compete in several categories including, Engineering Notebook, Marketing Presentation, Team Gallery, Spirit and Sportsmanship, as well as Robot Performance.
The robotics team has approximately 21 active members made up of students in grades 7-12 and everyone plays their part.
Clarion students work together on three focus areas, the engineering notebook team, responsible for documenting the entire process from start to finish, the marketing team, which leads the show to showcase their products and the engineering team responsible for building the robot and creating the code.
“The biggest focus of marketing is on connecting with the community,” McNamara added. “We are constantly showing our presence, looking to the future, and acquiring new members.”
They both agreed that one day they would like to see the robotics team in elementary school.
“You learn not only practical skills, but also life skills, business, teamwork, and professionalism,” Martz said. “You can come in here and work with your hands all day and get something done, which is something I love to do.
“I loved it so much because I did the Eagle Scout project in the robotics room, and I completely rearranged the room.”
The project included the installation of a dust collection system, the provision of two new drills, and a belt sander through donations.
“I organized every inch of the room, it was all in the hallway,” said Martz. “I got a lot of help.”
Although there is pressure in creating the best robot, finding better methods is done by competition and achieved through teamwork.
“It’s a lot of collaboration and effort, a lot of dedication,” McNamara said. “The collaboration is my favorite part. It’s so rewarding, it all comes together at the end.”
But it’s not just about working with your teammates, other teams in the competition are ready and excited to share their thoughts, how they did something and give advice on how to change things to make it better.
Clarion uses a golf ball cut in half on the robot, allowing it to spin easily.
“We got that idea from another team,” Martz said. “We learn a lot from the other teams.”
And it was this cooperation that brought them together not only as a team that dreams of winning, but also to make friends.
“I learned something new and made a lot of friends,” McNamara said.
Martz agreed, adding, “I talk to many different people I wouldn’t have known otherwise.”
The top three teams will move on to this year’s regional competition in Denver, Colo. It’s been 2017 since the team has progressed and the team feels confident in their product, even though there are plenty of first-year members.
Martz feels very confident and optimistic.
“This year is very promising,” Martz said. “We want to win – we’re going to win.”
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