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24-06-2002, 02:02
Posted by Carll Pallokat at 03/09/2001 2:59 PM EST
Coach on team #237, Sie-H2O-Bots, from Watertown High School and Eastern Awning Systems & The Siemon Company.
News Release 3/9/01
The Sie-H2O-Bots are back in town after the New England Regional on March 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The 2001 robot played the game but did not perform as well as expected. So -- the team met in a “huddle” at the “pit” Saturday afternoon to talk strategy and possibility. Looking at the advantages and disadvantages, strengths and weaknesses, the mechanical and electrical teams, with mentors and advisors, decided to remove two major mechanisms – the ramp and the arms and claw. These components were found to be unnecessary to play the game successfully. It was decided to replace them with mechanisms more adaptive to the game.
Sie-H2O-Bot students were sent home Saturday evening with the assignment of drawing and making three-dimensional prototypes that would be adapted to the transmissions already in place. Limitations to this task included that a major storm was approaching and that the team would be unable to secure any materials not already in their possession. Also, the robot had to be shipped by 5pm on Tuesday, March 6th, giving them little time to design and fabricate their new ideas. Fortunately, the base chassis drive systems, and transmissions were adaptable to the new strategy and changes to the machine’s operation.
Many members of the team, students, mentors, and advisors, gathered Sunday morning at 9am to present their ideas and construct the necessary adaptations. The robot went from 129.5 lbs to 68 lbs and then back to 125 lbs -- still under the 130 lb limit necessary to compete. The team lived up to their new nickname T.R.I.B.E. (acronym for Taking Robotics Into Bolder Experiences) as they took on the task of building a more competitive machine. “Bold” is an understatement! The adaptations have created a robot that is able to balance goals on the bridge (a see-saw structure) or help other teams to balance goals on the bridge by assisting them to climb up on the bridge or by acting as a wedge (“door stopper”) while balancing the bridge. Controlling these operations kept the electrical teams busy connecting wires, limit switches and relays and then, programming them all to work off two sets of joysticks. Student drivers manipulate these to control the bot during competitions. The yellow and black compact robot can also manipulate the bridge from either a side or front location.
This year’s game is formulated on some important life lessons. Cooperation and teamwork are where it’s at and working together gives everyone the best results. During the three days at the regional competition, scores increased from 40s, 80s and a hundred plus points on the first day of practice to over 500 points on the last day of competition as four teams coordinated their skills in the least amount of time. The 2001 game incorporated a multiplier that increased the score of the teams who completed their work in under the two-minute time limit. Another lesson – when life doesn’t work out the way you’d like, go back to the drawing board, reassess and give it your best. And that’s just what this team has done. Go for it Sie-H2O-Bots!
The group will be taking 24 student team members, 2 advisors, some of their mentors and family members to the National Competition at Epcot in Orlando, Florida on April 5th, 6th, and 7th. Look out Orlando – here comes a team that works well under pressure and gets it together!
Written by Barbara Schulz Team 237 Advisor
Any postings from Team 237 members are to be the presumed opinions of such members, and are not to be interpreted or understood to be official communication from Team 237.
Barbara Schulz and Carll Pallokat (Team Advisors)
Coach on team #237, Sie-H2O-Bots, from Watertown High School and Eastern Awning Systems & The Siemon Company.
News Release 3/9/01
The Sie-H2O-Bots are back in town after the New England Regional on March 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The 2001 robot played the game but did not perform as well as expected. So -- the team met in a “huddle” at the “pit” Saturday afternoon to talk strategy and possibility. Looking at the advantages and disadvantages, strengths and weaknesses, the mechanical and electrical teams, with mentors and advisors, decided to remove two major mechanisms – the ramp and the arms and claw. These components were found to be unnecessary to play the game successfully. It was decided to replace them with mechanisms more adaptive to the game.
Sie-H2O-Bot students were sent home Saturday evening with the assignment of drawing and making three-dimensional prototypes that would be adapted to the transmissions already in place. Limitations to this task included that a major storm was approaching and that the team would be unable to secure any materials not already in their possession. Also, the robot had to be shipped by 5pm on Tuesday, March 6th, giving them little time to design and fabricate their new ideas. Fortunately, the base chassis drive systems, and transmissions were adaptable to the new strategy and changes to the machine’s operation.
Many members of the team, students, mentors, and advisors, gathered Sunday morning at 9am to present their ideas and construct the necessary adaptations. The robot went from 129.5 lbs to 68 lbs and then back to 125 lbs -- still under the 130 lb limit necessary to compete. The team lived up to their new nickname T.R.I.B.E. (acronym for Taking Robotics Into Bolder Experiences) as they took on the task of building a more competitive machine. “Bold” is an understatement! The adaptations have created a robot that is able to balance goals on the bridge (a see-saw structure) or help other teams to balance goals on the bridge by assisting them to climb up on the bridge or by acting as a wedge (“door stopper”) while balancing the bridge. Controlling these operations kept the electrical teams busy connecting wires, limit switches and relays and then, programming them all to work off two sets of joysticks. Student drivers manipulate these to control the bot during competitions. The yellow and black compact robot can also manipulate the bridge from either a side or front location.
This year’s game is formulated on some important life lessons. Cooperation and teamwork are where it’s at and working together gives everyone the best results. During the three days at the regional competition, scores increased from 40s, 80s and a hundred plus points on the first day of practice to over 500 points on the last day of competition as four teams coordinated their skills in the least amount of time. The 2001 game incorporated a multiplier that increased the score of the teams who completed their work in under the two-minute time limit. Another lesson – when life doesn’t work out the way you’d like, go back to the drawing board, reassess and give it your best. And that’s just what this team has done. Go for it Sie-H2O-Bots!
The group will be taking 24 student team members, 2 advisors, some of their mentors and family members to the National Competition at Epcot in Orlando, Florida on April 5th, 6th, and 7th. Look out Orlando – here comes a team that works well under pressure and gets it together!
Written by Barbara Schulz Team 237 Advisor
Any postings from Team 237 members are to be the presumed opinions of such members, and are not to be interpreted or understood to be official communication from Team 237.
Barbara Schulz and Carll Pallokat (Team Advisors)