Conant Middle High School’s FIRST Tech Challenge robotics team, 17630 Hot Wings, recently competed in the Canada Cup of Robotics at Brock University. Seventy-eight teams were in attendance, with each team averaging three to 10 members.
When teams were not competing, the group had time to explore the surrounding area, including a visit to Niagara Falls, a silent disco, bubble soccer and a magic show.
The game fields and pits were held at Canada Games Park, located on the Brock University campus. The pits are a small section set aside at every competition for teams to work on their robot and answer questions from other teams. The main playing field was in a hockey-sized arena, where only team members, referees, volunteers and media were allowed. Spectators watched from the bleachers on large screens, in an arena filled with more than 1,500 people of all ages.
The 77 teams were from around the world, including Canada, the United States, Mexico, Romania, Israel, Germany, New Zealand, France, Libya and the Czech Republic. Team members learned about different countries and how many levels of competition they went through before qualifying for the Canada Cup of Robotics. Even though teams competed with each other, everyone shared tips and ways to improve their robots. Randomly formed alliances were made with teams unknown to each other. The teams and their alliance partners had to figure out strategies to use based on each team’s skills. Many formed lifelong friendships, planning to communicate via technology throughout the upcoming season to keep learning from each other.
In black, left to right: Adian Maher, Kreade Stenersen, Autumn Stone, and Dylan Charles. Credit: SHAUN MAHER / Courtesy
The competition was tense, thought-provoking, fierce, challenging and, most importantly, fun. The team practiced the FIRST Core Values, which are discovery, impact, innovation, inclusion, teamwork, fun and Gracious Professionalism.
As a team, we were proud of our results because of what we experienced and learned. We are more versed in technology and teamwork, and in learning and accepting the ways we need to improve our skills and prepare for the upcoming season.
Many thanks to our mentors, Laurel McKenzie, John and Helen Stone, and John Leone, who gave up their personal time to help and coach us through our challenges. We would also like to thank our community sponsors, who generously donated to help us get to the Canada Cup of Robotics.
Autumn Stone is a member of the 17630 Hot Wings team and a student at Conant Middle High School.