Robotics Update
Blizzards and Bots
{scott van doozer}
This Thursday will be known as the blizzard of 2009, when Denver and its environs were shut down by more than 12 inches of wet spring snow. But for Ridge View Academy’s Team 1583 Rambotics, it was the beginning of the Colorado FIRST (For Inspiration in Science and Technology) Regional competition. 48 teams from across the country assembled at the Ritchie Center’s Magness Arena at Denver University for the intense, annual robotics competition.
Due to the inclement weather, the event was reduced from three days to two, accelerating aspects of the competition. Team 1583 was at max capacity with 13 students and accompanying staff, and their robots performed as designed, so the time reduction didn’t affect them. Other teams weren’t as prepared though, and Team 1583 went as far as to loan out Student-Athlete Mark to the DPS Team 1410 George Washington driver team, meaning that he would have to compete against his own crew.
Team 1583 was incredibly proud of “Roger,” the robot named for Roger Allott, RVA’s Community Advisory Board member who brought FIRST robotics to RVA 5 years ago. The team finished in 7th place with a 6-1 record, had a winning design, and was awarded the Johnson & Johnson Gracious Professionalism Award, exemplifying the highest standard of sportsmanship, for the 3rd year in a row. The impact Team 1583 has on the RVA community and the Colorado community as a whole is a powerful testimony to the standard of excellence RVA’s students have come to expect from themselves and each other.
{Robotics van doozer}
Posted4/3/09
Colorado Regional Robotics Competition at Denver University March 26-28 2009
{Ridge View Academy}
For three days, 48 teams will compete for the privilege of travelling to Atlanta, GA, to compete in the international event in April. For this year’s game description and video, go to: http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc/default.aspx?id=966. Please come out and visit.
This season was especially bittersweet and special for the team, with the passing of our fervent supporter and Community Advisory Board member Roger Allott in January. Mr. Allott brought FIRST robotics to our school and was extremely passionate about the potential [positive impact] that FIRST would have on Ridge View students. This year the robotics team, staff and students, have chosen to name the robot “Roger” in his honor. The students understand that although he may have passed away, his legacy is the passion that forged Respect, Attitude, Motivation, and Spirit with the FIRST principle of Gracious Professionalism—to serve others and to become a productive person passing it on will be the cornerstone principles for this team.
Posted 3/28/09
The RVA Robotics team gears up for
another season of competition
{RVA}
The 2009 RVA robotics team has been working hard to develop another robot that will help them qualify for regional competition. The team has participated in one pre-ship scrimmage at the Colorado School of Mines and is very optimistic about the 2009 season. But first, the team must work diligently to iron out all the mechanical and programming issues before the robot is mandatorily sealed. Then, they will wait until the day of competition to unveil their work.
Posted 2/26/09
