G-D Robotics Team Excels at WPI Competition!
By Ginger Vollmar,
Publicity for the GDRHS Robotics Team
The Groton Dunstable High School Robotics
team, "The Robotomies", participated in the 2016 FIRST Robotics
“FIRST Stronghold” competition at WPI this past weekend. We are happy to report
that the team excelled and advanced well beyond anyone’s expectations! This was
a thrilling event for all of the team members, mentors, parents and fans that
came out to support the team.
There were 80 qualifying matches for the 40 teams
represented over the first day and a half. Our team had 12 qualifying matches
and after the first 11, we were ranked #1 with a record of 9-1-1. In our last
qualifying match, we lost by one point due to one of our alliance members
trying an unnecessary maneuver and failing, which cost us 10 points. With an
overall record of 9-2-1, we ended up ranked #3 at the end of the qualifying
matches!! This was an incredible accomplishment! It is interesting to note that
a mere 2 years ago, at this same venue, our robot could barely move, let alone
win any matches. This year’s robot was able to beat every defense, every time
and move all around the playing field with ease.
The top 8 teams moved on to the finals round on Sunday
afternoon. As the #3 team, we got to pick our two alliances to work with during
the quarter finals. We were not able to put together our “dream team” but we
had a good team. Unfortunately, we lost in the tie breaker match of the quarter
finals (it is best out of 3). We had lots of hoarse voices due to cheering on
our team and our robot. It was an amazing weekend of competition for the
Robotomies. Now we are looking forward to our next regional competition in
Providence, RI on March 25th and 26th. Expect more great things from this team.
Mr. Mark Rocheleau, robotics teacher and mentor had this to
say: “I'm so very proud of these kids. Many of them have been along on this
3-season robotics ride with me and I've watched as they have refused to give
up, learned from their mistakes, and finally, succeeded. Our team built an
amazing robot this year and they took the time to fully understand the game and
how to maximize points. Because of this we have a LOT to be proud of!”
Our students also showed an impressive level of
"gracious professionalism" (a term coined by FIRST's Professor Woodie
Flowers) by helping out other teams. One such instance came in our very first
match Saturday morning when our own drive team jumped in to help another team
in need. While waiting in the queue (minutes away from our first match),
Charlie Andrews began fixing another team's code while the others helped them
attempt to repair a wiring issue in the robot. This kind of skill, leadership
and community spirit demonstrates the quality students we have here at GD.
You can visit our web site at team1277.org for more
information about the Robotomies or like us on Facebook at “GD Team 1277”.
All funding for the Robotics team is privately raised. The
Robotomies are thrilled to have gotten more sponsors this year. We would like
to thank all of our current sponsors who provide funding for the entrance fees
for the FIRST competitions and for materials. Thank you to: Justin J. Maynard
Memorial STEM Innovation Scholarship; The Department of Defense STEM Program;
The Society for American Military Engineers; Raytheon; Ted & Connie Lapres
Fund; Mercury Systems; Groton Board of Trade; IBM Northeast Community Grant Program;
GE Oil & Gas; Solidworks; the Webber Restaurant Group; Harris Corporation;
MJR Engineering Co.; the Hughson Family; and the Adams Family. Additional
sponsorships are always welcomed and appreciated.
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