Capital Region Robotics Team

WITH COVID PRECAUTIONS NECESSITATING THE SUSPENSION OF TRADITIONAL FIRST ROBOTICS COMPETITION ACTIVITIES, FIRST HOSTED NON-CONTACT COMPETITIONS THAT PROVIDED SIMILAR ENGINEERING CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO DEVELOP AND APPLY TECHNICAL SKILLS. IN 2021, 24 STUDENTS COMPETED IN THE FRC GAME DESIGN CHALLENGE. STUDENTS WORKED REMOTELY IN TEAMS WITH MENTORS TO DEVELOP A GAME CONCEPT ABLE TO BE USED AS A FIRST ROBOTICS COMPETITION. STUDENTS CREATED A DETAILED VIRTUAL PLAYING FIELD, RULES FOR GAME PLAY, AND A COMPUTER ANIMATION TO SIMULATE HOW ROBOTS WOULD PLAY THE GAME. CAD MODELS OF EACH FIELD ELEMENT WERE CREATED AND ANIMATED TO ILLUSTRATE MATERIALS FOR CONSTRUCTION, ASSEMBLY METHODS, AND ELEMENT FUNCTION. THE FINAL PRODUCT WAS PACKAGED AND SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY FOR JUDGES' CONSIDERATION. STUDENTS MADE A FORMAL PRESENTATION OF THEIR GAME DESIGN TO A PANEL OF JUDGES. IN A SECOND VIRTUAL COMPETITION HOSTED BY FIRST ROBOTICS IN 2021, 8 STUDENTS DEVELOPED A PRESENTATION SHOWCASING THE DESIGN AND PRINCIPLES USED IN THE ROBOT CREATED FOR THE 2020 FIRST ROBOTICS COMPETITION. FOR THEIR ENTRY, STUDENTS SUBMITTED CAD DRAWINGS, INFORMATION ABOUT THE DESIGN PROCESS, AND ROBOT FUNCTION. THEY DEVELOPED A PRESENTATION EXPANDING ON THEIR ENTRY TO DELIVER ORALLY TO JUDGES. IN FOLLOW-UP, STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN A PANEL INTERVIEW AND RESPONDED TO JUDGERS QUESTIONS. THE CULMINATION OF STUDENTS' EFFORTS WAS BEING AWARDED THE QUALITY AWARD FOR THE INFINITE RECHARGE AT HOME COMPETITION. TEAM MEMBERS MANUFACTURED AND DONATED 3-D PRINTED FACE SHIELDS FOR COVID PREVENTION TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN NEED. UPON GRADUATION, ROBOTICS TEAM PARTICIPANTS CONSISTENTLY PURSUE TECHNICAL AND STEM STUDY IN COLLEGE.