Jefferson robotics team visits XALT Energy – Midland Daily News

Posted: April 17, 2017 at 12:54 pm

The FIRST Tech Challenge team number 10615, the Jefferson CyDogs, of Jefferson Middle School, recently demonstrated its robot to a host of engineers and scientists at the XALT Energy, LLC Midland Battery Plant.

The team also toured the facility, which included going into the class 1,000 clean rooms where the battery cells are produced. According to Richard Cundiff, CEO of XALT Energy, they were the youngest group to ever tour the plant.

Participants included Robert Roe, who said going through the five-person air shower was his favorite part. Liz Fowler enjoyed learning about the manufacturing processes while Casey Lambert appreciated the in-depth, exclusive tour of the facility and XALTs support of the team.

The students were also given the opportunity to start a certain manufacturing process, see robots in action and build batteries out of common household items including lemons, potatoes and pennies.

Each group measured the performance of their homemade battery and learned that a single XALT lithium ion battery is equivalent 1.6 million potato batteries.

The Jefferson CyDogs appreciated how much time the XALT employees dedicated to this event.

XALT Energy was so impressed with these young scientists and engineers that it made a $1,000 donation to their program. The Jefferson CyDog team will use this money to build a second robot and its controls. The new system will enable the team to be more efficient in developing, programming and testing its creation.

FIRST is a nonprofit organization devoted to helping young people discover and develop a passion for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

For more information on FIRST programs in the area or to become involved with a team, contact the FTC Team 10615 - Jefferson CyDogs at ftc10615@gmail.com

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Jefferson robotics team visits XALT Energy - Midland Daily News

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