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By Bill Van Tassell
LEWISTON — Mount Blue High School robotics’ team, competed in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) New England Robotics Competition held at Lewiston’s Colisee April 1. The group was part of a three-team alliance that lost by just four points in the quarterfinal round. The alliance had three of the top four scores of the meet.
The team’s mentor/adviser is Richard Wilde, computer technology instructor at the Foster Career and Technology Center in Farmington. Wilde has recently been honored by the town of Farmington by having its annual report dedicated to him. The Robotics’ team (Blue Crew/Essayons) won the All-Star Rookie award at a previous (2016) competition in Rhode Island.
This year’s competition, titled “Steamworks,” required the robot, operated by a team member, to gather up large whiffle balls, then shoot them into a large steam boiler stack; to grab a large plastic gear from another team member and deposit it in a central area; finally, to hook up to a crane that lifted it off the playing area. These three tasks were to be accomplished in three minutes.
The teams competed in “Alliances” by cooperating with teams from other parts of Maine and New England. Cooperation and sharing technical skills is a large part of the First Robotics and Pine Tree District goals for the students.
Preparation requires many months of work in several areas including, finding sponsors and fund raising; building and programming a robot according to FIRST speculations; designing a logo; acquiring mentors; learning to work with others; plenty of practice and testing; and of course, problem solving.
PHOTO CAPTION: Three members of Mt. Blue High School and Foster Career Center’s Robotics team competed in the FIRST Robotics Competition at Lewiston’s Colisee March 31 and April 1. Their robot, 6153, has just hooked itself up to be lifted off the playing field. From left, driver Bryce Thomas (holding controls); Matt Gallant, programmer; Thomas Marshall, drive Coach. (Photos by Bill Van Tassel)
