A-Tech’s robotics team wins first in regional competition – The Star Beacon

Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus robotics squad, The Machinists,battled their way to a first place finish at the Alliance for Working Together Foundations seventh annual Robobot Competition at Lakeland Community College on April 29.

Amid flying sparks and metal crunching clashes, Arditi, a radio controlled robot designed by A-Techs Robotics squad defeatedthe Beaumonsters of Beaumont School in the championship round.

Teams from public, private and career technical schools from across Northeastern Ohio competed at the event.

It was exciting, team member Ayden Arendas said. Curtis (Beukeman) was the driver and Damian (Schoville) ran the weapon. I think the key to winning was building a well built and protected bot.

The Machinists are now preparing to enter the fray at a National Competition held at California University of Pennsylvania on May 20 which will feature robotics teams from across the United States.

We noticed that a lot of matches are lost because the robobots electronics would fail after being hit a couple of times. So, having reliable electronics, well-constructed parts and a titanium shell were more than enough to make sure our robobot was able to take a beating and still fight, Arendas said. Arditi is still in one piece and is completely functional. We did have to replace a bolt or two but no significant damage was done

The Machinists technical advisor, Short Run Machine products owner Scott Ray agreed.

Very minor damage to our bot after each round made for an easy day, Ray said. The key strategy was our driving: taking our time, driving with great skill and then making our move to attack. We cannot wait until the National Competition. We are ready to battle the big boys.

All of Arditis working components were machined in A-Techs learning laboratory.The robotics team includes Precision Engineering and Machining seniors Ayden Arendas, Curtis Beukeman, Damian Schoville and Justin Osborne.

It was a very exciting day, for sure, saidA-Tech Precision Engineering and Machining instructor RonMaurer. Im so proud of these students for their diligence over months of refining the bot and working so well as a team at the competition.

The A-Tech Machinists are under the guidance of Ray; Wecall, Inc., engineer Ben Chaffee; and instructor Ron Maurer.

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A-Tech's robotics team wins first in regional competition - The Star Beacon