Robotics Team Adopted a New System - Vex Robotics
Dec. 14, 2018 -- The Heights High Robotics team is changing course. For the past several years, they have designed and built Battle Bots, a remote controlled unit that battles another unit in a bullet proof cage. Last year the teams placed 1st and 2nd at the regional competition and 5th and 13th at Nationals.
This year the team is using a new model - Vex Robotics, a system or kit for designing, programming, building and operating robotic units.
“Think of an Erector Set on steroids,” said Heights High Robotics Team Coach. “The kits are very versatile and with more opportunities for students to program the robotic movements.
The school fielded six teams and competed in their first Vex competition on December 1 at Wooster High School.
The six Heights High teams placed between 18th and 26th place in the field of 30.
“We learned so much on Saturday,” said Mr. Nachman.”We are very new to this kind of competition and we saw what we need to do to improve.”
Each competition match is two minutes long and is held on a ‘field’ that is 12’ x 12’. Four robots earn points by completing tasks on the field. Two teams form an alliance and work together against the other alliance and individually for their own team.
Each team and aliance scores points by:
-Positioning 9” caps using caps on the field
-Toggling flags with the robotic arm or throwing a ball at the flag with the robotic arm
-Maintaining a parking spot on one of three platforms on the field
The Heights High Robotics team will compete in at least three more events this school year: December 16, February 2 and 16.
The six teams at the December 1 competition were:
Team 1: Grant Gober, Captain, Shawn Crawford, Cervantes Villanueva, Emmet Creamer, David Adams and Jaylen Beller
Team 2: Emma Vail, Captain, Patrick Dooner, Greyton Manne, Amari O'bryant-Eppinge and Abby Lauretig
Team 3: William Benham, Captain, Sam Mitchell, Julian Postak, Jackson Chenin and Trevon Upshaw
Team 4: Ryan Andrews, Captain, Niroshun Weerakkody, Henry French, Joshua Wendorf and Chris Hayse
Team 5: Jazzy Gold, Captain, James Birdsell, Ramon Wimbley, Emma Hodges, Christian Steele, Jaleel Davis and Keshaun Madlock
Team 6: Kihyale Hayes, Captain, River Meesig, Troy Gentry, Alex Grim and Eric Napoleon
Dr. Allen Wilkinson, retired NASA scientist, is a volunteer with the team.