By Mary O’KEEFE

Robotics clubs around the world are getting ready for the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology) competitions. Each year, FIRST challenges kids of all ages with a variety of programs, including LEGO leagues, tech challenges and the robotics competition. It is the competition that brought high school robotics teams to Crescenta Valley High School for their annual dinner and scrimmage.

CVHS Robotics recently played host to teams from Franklin High School in Eagle Rock and La Cañada High School. The tradition of dinner and scrimmage began several years ago at CVHS. The purpose is for teams to form alliances and to show support for each other.

Jennifer Gonzalez, Franklin senior and captain of her team, said that last year their team created a survey that was distributed throughout the competition, which can include over 70 teams. Teams filled out the survey, which included information on what strengths they had. The surveys were made available to all of the teams and if one was in need of specific help it knew who to approach.

This was Franklin’s first time at the CVHS scrimmage.

“We had wanted to come before but never did,” she said. “This is a really good way to build alliances.”

It is important to know other teams because during the competitions three teams work together against three other teams. The scrimmage gives individual teams a chance to learn how their strategy can work with others.

Each year FIRST officials challenge high school students with a different game. The rules are released in January and teams have six weeks to build a robot that will play the game. There are requirements each year for the robots, from the type of wheels that can be used to the robot’s total weight.

This year the game is called “Power Up.”

“This year it is a video game theme. There are cubes that we have to set back on different balances. One balance is up to seven feet tall and one is at ground level at about two feet tall. You have to get the cubes on the balance, the other team can take your balance away by putting more cubes on the side,” said Ian Dankowski, CVHS senior and member of the robotics’ team. “It is a lot of fun and a lot of strategy is involved.”

Each game is different, which is the challenge. In the past, games had robots shooting baskets, like in basketball. There was even a game that had robots playing tic-tac-toe that dealt not only with strategy on how to play the game but teams had to decide if their robot would be defense or offense. This new game is a little similar but mostly keys in on strategy.

“This competition, I think, is really interesting,” said Emme Spero, a junior who has been a CVHS team member for four years.

Spero and Ally Bell, sophomore, are on the programing team. One manages the software while the other works on how the software is going to be integrated within the rest of the team.

Dankowski added this year the team has fewer seniors but more mentors.

“There are [fewer] seniors this year, which is scary because we really depended on our seniors last year,” he said.

This year the seniors who are part of the team are spending more time than in years past teaching underclassmen so help better prepare them for next year, he said.

When the game is revealed to teams they begin to immediately strategize how they will build their robot and how they will conquer the challenge. This year the focus is on the robot’s arm as it lifts the cubes. CVHS has designed an arm that will telescope out and, while La Cañada High School teammates had discussed that option, they ended up going in another direction.

“Right after we hear the game [rules], we start building game pieces and thinking of different ways to score points,” said Gregory Pan, a LCHS senior.

The team looked at several options for the arm, including incorporating an elevator-type system or scissor-lift, but went instead with a four bar option.

“It is four bars connected to a cage,” he said. The cage starts on the ground and is then lifted up.

At the scrimmage, the teams discussed strategies, their robots’ issues and the fun waiting after six weeks of intense work.

  Mary Okeefe