As trimester two begins, the start of robotics build season is quickly approaching. Junior and third year robotics member Elinor Schense shares that “The kickoff for all of the robotics teams is on January 6th. This is where we will learn what the challenge is during the game for the year and we can actually start designing and building this year’s robot.” 

Although the build season has yet to start, members have been busy planning, and the returners have been teaching and mentoring new participants. According to Junior Abdi Muse, the team has “a lot of new freshmen and many returners.” Junior Kali Gavin describes that many “people come in with absolutely no knowledge, and by build season, they are able to do most things with some guidance from our mentors.” Schense also shares that the team has been “organizing our room and updating our previous years robots which we’ve kept for practice.”

Following the announcement of the challenge, Gavin says that they “will have until March to create a robot that can complete the challenge as well as possible.” The build season finalizes in March, and competitions will begin. 

One of the team’s biggest accomplishments from last year was placing third at a regional competition, which was held in Iowa. They also attended the state competition. Another past achievement shared by Gavin was “winning an autonomous award as well as the Dunwoody award for excellence in design.” 

Looking further ahead, the robotics team has established some goals for the season. Gavin shares that the team hopes to return to the state competition and is “ also aiming to make it to worlds!”