FIRST(R) Robotics Team 172 (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is composed of 37 students this year. There are students from Falmouth (26), Gorham (10) and students from other schools. Of the 37 students, eight are girls.
The team has 13 mentors who lead the different subteams and about 22 additional adults who help. Mentors are made up of school employees and parents in fields like engineering, programming, business, and mechanics. Michelle Moutinho of Gorham and John Kraljic of Falmouth are the team coaches.
The Falmouth and Gorham high school robotics team allows students, mentors, and their family members to work toward a common goal of designing, building, marketing, and operating a competitive robot in a business-like environment while supporting the ideals of FIRST. Students work side-by-side with professional mentors and parents to design, build, and program a 125-pound robot in a six week build season, with additional clinics and post-season events occurring throughout the year.
This past weekend, the 2022 challenge, “Rapid React,” was announced to all FIRST Robotics teams. Unlike past years, where some Maine teams would gather together to view the announcement, it was done with just the team to reduce risks. The next step is to develop a plan to address the game challenge.
According to Coach John Kraljic, “The next day we held a 3-hour ‘brainstorming event’ to generate ideas on how the team feels we should solve this year’s challenge. This session includes ‘problem definition’ and ‘needs definition’ when we attempt to identify not only what the game is about, but also how we want to address the challenge.”
Some of the questions that came up this year included, High goal versus low goal? How can we earn the most ranking points? While hanging from a bar is important during the end game, how much should we try to do (there are four different hanging bars)?
Input from the entire team is then turned over to the design team, the group of students who actually design the robot. The plans developed by design are then turned over to the mechanical subteam, the group of students who actually machine and assemble the parts into the final robot.
As the mechanical team works, the electrical team starts to wire the robot, and then the programming subteam programs it for driver control, and also for the autonomous period of the game. During competitions, the drive team manipulates the robot during each match.
It is truly a team effort with each group playing a part. The team is looking forward to an exciting and successful season culminating in competitions and demonstrations in March and April.