4-H Robotics Club team inspired by competition – Chambersburg Public Opinion

Franklin County's 4-H Robotics Club competed in FIRST Robotics competition in Pittsburg earlier in March and the Buckeye competition in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 31 and April 1, 2017(Photo: Vicky Taylor/Public Opinion)Buy Photo

CLEVELAND, OHIO - Competition at the FIRST Robotics Buckeye Regional matches in Cleveland last weekend was tough, but Chambersburg's 4-H Robotics Club and its robot Boiling Point put everything they had into the task, win or lose.

They focused on the competition and the opportunity to take their robot into the regionals, determined to do their best and learn from the experience, regardless of the outcome.

In spite of not winning the Buckeye competition, team members and their mentors said they consider the 2017 season to be its most successful so far.

The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) competition is an annual event targeting teen robotics clubs around the world who compete for recognition, as well as experience in the technology field.

From the club's extremely consistent climbing assembly on its robot Boiling Point to its simple and solid gear handling device to its modular electrical assembly, Boiling Point and the club's drive team members proved themselves many times in tough competition.

More:Robotics club to compete in Cleveland

Competition started Friday, when teams were paired with and competed against other teams to determine their rank. Qualification matches continued into Saturday, then the top eight teams choose two other teams to form "alliances" thatwould compete in the playoffs.

Local 4-H Robotics Club member Carlee Beaty described the club's experience in the Buckeye Regional competition, the second such regional competition it completed in this year.

"The drivers behind the player stations are completely zoned in on the match, getting as many gears on the airship as possible and fuel in the boiler.

4-H Robotics Club members, left to right, Seth Young, mentor Troy Young and Chad Beaty work on a robot during a meeting in March.(Photo: Vicky Taylor/Public Opinion)

"Then the buzzer for the last 30 seconds in the match went off for the robots to start climbing, the ropes were let down by the pilots and its a race against time to finish the last task to get the most points.

"All three of the opposing robots on the red alliance successfully climbed the rope as well as the blue alliance (which included local Team4050), but then Team 2632s rope broke and the robot fell when the buzzer went off with no time left!

"The fall broke two wheels on the robot and team 2632 had to pull out of the competition. The referees determined the score for the match, and the red alliance won with 420 points."

More:4-H robotics club excels at regionals

The blue alliance had305 points, but that didn't mean the competition was over for the local team, since the winners were determined by the best two out of three matches. Their alliance still had another chance to move into the semifinals, but first they had to pick another team to replace team 2632.

They chose Team Moonshots 5973 and started their second playoff match.

It was the alliance's last chance to move on and advance in the competition.

Finally, with 30 seconds left,once again the ropes were let down and the drivers rushed to get to the ropes and climb.

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The red alliance made it up and the blue had two robots up, but Team 5973 was still trying to get a hold of the rope when the timer went off and the match ended.

"The blue alliance did their best," Beaty said. "They learned from their experiences and had fun doing it."

Although they lostthe match, they left the competition on Saturday evening to return to Chambersburgin high spirits.

"What FIRST says is true," Beaty said. "Its more than robots, (and) its more than winning."

Vicky Taylor, 717-881-5373

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4-H Robotics Club team inspired by competition - Chambersburg Public Opinion