Waialua High Robotics Win Regional Title
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS | Share
Del.icio.usWaialua High’s Robotics Team 359 is on a winning streak, capturing its second national regional robotics title at the Regional FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Robotics) Competition last month at Arizona Veterans Coliseum in Phoenix.
Known as The Hawaiian Kids, the 32-member Waialua team led a three-team alliance with teams from California and Arizona to capture the title. Waialua was among three Hawaii entries in a field of 56 from the U.S. and Mexico.
“We’re definitely a well-rounded team, we work throughout the school year, so there’s definitely a high level of commitment as whole,” said team coach Glenn Lee, who has been spear-heading the team for the past 11 years.
“This win is very surreal to us,” he added. “We do more than just build a robot. Everyone has responsibilities, be it designing the robot on the computer or creating a business plan.”
Meet their 150-pound robot Poi Pounder X, who is able to shoot soccer balls into goals with efficiency and consistency, climb a 7-foot tower and more.
The Hawaiian Kids and their counterparts work throughout the year with teachers and industry mentors to make sure robots like Poi Pounder X meet a specific engineering challenge using a common kit of parts - motors, batteries, a control system, a PC and a mix of automation components - but no instructions.
“The key is having great management skills and raising enough funds to run at a high level,” Lee explained. “The goal is to raise $100,000 per year, which helps pay for travel and robot parts. I think we have the best equipment around and the most generous sponsors around.”
Waialua also won the Chairman’s Award for the team that is the best model for others and inspiring greater levels of respect for science and technology.
They also claimed the Entrepreneurship Award for attaining team objectives and designing a comprehensive business plan; and the Cooperation Award or The Waialua team also competed (for the seventh time) in the FIRST International Championships in Atlanta last weekend after winning the top prize at the San Diego First Regional Competition.
“After San Diego, it was our mission to improve our robot’s speed and mobility for the competition in Atlanta before going on to Dallas (this weekend) for the World Vex tournament,” Lee explained.
The team will return home, hopefully with additional awards to add to their already-vast wall of fame.
“So far our hard work is paying off with great results,” Lee said.
For details on the Waialua Robotics Team, visit www.waialuarobotics.com.
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS
Most Recent Comment(s):
