[moderated] pic: The 2006 NiagaraFIRST Triplets!

[Derek Bessette]

Originally Posted by GaryV1188

Do the triplets always compete in the same regionals? Perhaps because of your location Toronto and Waterloo make the most sense; but do you consciously choose to be at the regionals together?

Perhaps in a year or two there will be two sets of two teams, making two sets of "twin" robots. 1114 can collaborate with the new team, 1503 and 1680 can collaborate together. Or whatever works for the situation. In a later year, another team can be added to a partnership to create another "triplet" - which can then divide and spawn off another partnership in a few years.

The triplets are competing in the same regionals. This helps us to save travel costs and reduce the amount of planning required. Also, it is very difficult to have the mentors travel to all different regionals in different weeks.

As for the question of growth within our community. We still feel there is an opportunity to have up to about 6 teams in our area (we also have students from other schools who participate on our teams). I don't envision there will ever be 6 identical robots at a regional. I do however for see a very strong collaborative effort between all teams to make the student's and mentor's experience more rewarding. We'll have to wait and see what happens.