Monroiva Unified robotics teams to compete in Houston, Netherlands – The Pasadena Star-News

MONROVIA>> Monrovia Highs Suitbots robotics team will count on focus and experience to help them at the FIRST (FTC) Tech Challenge World Championships in Houston on Tuesday.

This years team is mostly made up of students who have been part of the after school program for at least three years.

Monrovia Highs Droidnoughts team will also compete in Houston.

This year is the first time weve done really well in competitions; I think thats because of our focus, said Suitbots team captain and junior Eli Williams. Theres a lot of good combined experience in the team.

Another district team, the Hippie Bots from Clifton Middle School, will travel to the Netherlands to compete in the FTC Dutch Open Championships on May 19 and 20.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), is a nonprofit program designed to get children curious and involved in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) fields. Through mentor-based programs, students learn STEM skills as they build robots, while also building self-confidence, communication, leadership and life skills.

(The Netherlands invitation) is a testament to their hard work and their openness to learning, said Paul Flores, Clifton robotics coordinator and Hippiebots mentor. Each student continues to push the limits, and think outside the box. Success then tends to work itself out.

Flores said they have fine-tuned their robot over the year and had lots of great help from the Monrovia High teams. The Clifton history teacher said he is looking forward to the students experiencing a new culture.

This is an educational experience; being able to go overseas and experience things and see things and places that weve talked about in history class, said Flores.

Eighth-grader Zachary Szymkowski, said hes looking forward to impressing the Europeans.

I think its going to be cool, because well also have time to do some touring, and the competition is exciting, and scary, said fellow teammate and eighth-grader Cory Spaeth. I like the hands on building; its been fun using the tools. Our team works well together. Weve figured out our strengths and weaknesses.

After a rough start to their season last year, the Suitbots were sure to be properly prepared this year.

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Innovation through simplicity, said Probst of the teams motto. Other teams build very intricate mechanisms for their robots that perform the same function that a similarly simple mechanism would be able to do. All our mechanisms, we reduced them to their most basic components and make sure that they function as well as, if not better than, the more complicated versions.

Journey to championship

The Suitbots earned their way to Houston after winning the Connect Award at the February Los Angeles Regional Championships, and then heading to the western Super-Regional Championships in Washington in March. The Suitbots won seven of nine competitions in Tacoma, placing them in seventh and earning them a spot in Houston.

The Droidnoughts, who also advanced through the L.A. Regional Championships, were one of 20 western teams invited to Houston, through a lottery process.

Monrovia High robotics coordinator Tom Dobson said the program is open to a lot of different kids who may not be as interested in the robotics part, but more interested in the outreach or business aspect of the program, and can contribute to a team that way.

The Hippie Bots showed strong leadership as alliance captains during the L.A. Regional Championships, making it into the quarterfinals and receiving a special invitation to the Netherlands. The Clifton team will be the only U.S. team, and will compete against high school and college student teams.

All three teams have been raising funds for their respective trips through two separate GoFundMe pages.

For the Suitbots and Droidnoughts from Monrovia High, go to http://bit.ly/2mJ3CFQ. For the Clifton Hippie Bots, go to http://bit.ly/2njYQmv.

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Monroiva Unified robotics teams to compete in Houston, Netherlands - The Pasadena Star-News