KW Robotics team prepares for ‘Steamworks’ challenge – Southernminn.com

Its sort of Victorian-industrial, but with more whimsy and fewer orphans.

- Caitlin Kittredge, describing the Steampunk aesthetic

Students preparing for the 2017 FIRST Robotics (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Competition will be exhaling the first sigh of relief this week as the building deadline for robots closed on Tuesday.

The Steamworks theme is a nod to the Steampunk movement, which reflects the blending of Victorian-era mechanical gadgetry and modern science fiction.

It should also make for some interesting team costumes this year.

Since early January, the Kenyon-Wanamingo team 3848, known as Bots in Shining Armor, has been using all their technical skills to design, build and troubleshoot a robot for the contest.

Earlier preparation included a fall robotics scrimmage with last-year's robot at Prior Lake High School, an event that advisor Doug Thompson also uses to draw in new recruits for the team.

Over the weekend the team participated in a scrimmage with the new robot in Eagan. Thompson said they use that competition to see how their robot performs and learn if they have interpreted all the rules and guidelines correctly. Inspectors checked over the machine and the team still had two days to make improvements before the bag and tag deadline.

According to Thompson, the rules are particularly challenging this year in relation to the size of the robot. It could only be 36 inches by 40 inches, and 24 inches tall, including the bumpers. Previous machines had larger dimensions, but this new size restriction forces teams to build more compact.

The 2017 Steamworks challenge has three main components: shoot softball-sized "fuel balls" into a high or low "boiler," stack plastic gears to engage rotors for a "flying machine," and have the robot use a rope to climb on board for the "flight."

The main robot will be out of commission from now until they attend the FIRST Robotics competition at the University of Minnesota Mariucci Arena on April 5-8.

But that doesn't mean that the team will be slacking. Thompson had the JV squad build a mirror model that the group can use for practice. That is one advantage that comes from building up a stock of materials and receiving donations for extra funding.

In the fall, the robotics team received a $5,000 grant from Monsanto. Thompson was contacted by a representative from Syngenta near Stanton, who encouraged him to apply.

Other contributors include: Kenyon-Holden-Warsaw Mutual Insurance, Medtronics, Walmart, Toro, the Baalson family (in memory of Jake Baalson), Fastenal, Schwegman-Lundberg-Woessner Patent Attorneys, Alan and Ann Stolee, Paul Clauson, Dr. Jeff Pesta and the K-W Education Foundation.

Along with Thompson, adult mentors assisting the team are: Paul Clauson, Eddie Weyant, Jim Gould and Alan Stolee.

This year's team has only one senior, Casey Cooper. The juniors are: Kieran Weyandt, Sam Blastervold, Nicholas Kaiser, Ethan Houglum, Markus Rechtzigel and Joe Gould. Cole Newman is the only sophomore, and freshmen are Alan Clouse, Skylar and Xander Blauer and Charlie Severeid.

Team captain Casey Cooper handles much of the welding and fabricating. He said teamwork plays a big role in how they operate. Like a sports team, each person may have different roles to play such as welding, programming, electronics, artwork, finances and building.

Robotics brings students and adults together from different places and groups, he said, yet this makes them connected. Cooper's favorite part is that they are actually building real robots.

He said the challenging parts will be to make sure their robot can maneuver, get their timing right and overcome obstacles. A lot can depend on the competition they get at Mariucci, he added.

At a table in the shop classroom, Nickolas Kaiser talked with Joe Gould and Cole Newman. Gould held up a mounting bracket that they made with the 3-D printer. They agreed that robotics has helped them understand and apply what they have learned in the classroom about electricity and mathematical calculations like parabolas.

Newman has worked on the programming aspects this year. He said is has a steep learning curve, but he has learned a lot from alumni mentor Bryan Pliscott. Other alumni assisting the team include Peter Clauson, Trevor Clouse, Sam Tudor and Mason Sanders.

A 2015 K-W graduate, Sanders is currently enrolled at South Central College in Faribault. He is able to bring his machining and welding skills to the group and enjoys sharing knowledge and insights.

As he leaned over the robot, discussing an aluminum bracket placement with Cooper, he said it's cool to see the younger guys stepping up and taking charge. Sanders said he loves the program, calling it "the best extra-curricular that schools offer," and adding that robotics gave him a huge lead at college in the areas of design and welding.

Freshman Skye Blauer is the only female on the team this year. She brings experience in the Lego robotics program and is helping a lot with sponsorship and record keeping this year. She is also in charge of the team's interpretation of the Steampunk theme.

Thompson is optimistic about the K-W Robotics Team. With the other mentors, he has built a decent program from scratch that is developing students' skills and character, and representing K-W well.

What's next? He shared that a grade 5-8 Lego robotics team was approved by the school district, but all the contest spots were full this year. That's OK, he said, they have the parts and will be ready next fall.

Reach Publisher and Editor Terri Lenz at 333-3148, or follow her on Twitter.com @KenyonLeader

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KW Robotics team prepares for 'Steamworks' challenge - Southernminn.com