Orcutt Academy robotics team heads for world championships

The Orcutt Academy High School varsity robotics team is heading to the 2015 FIRST Robotics world championship for the second time in five years. The last was in 2012, two years after the team was created.

And this time, Ty Fredriks wants everyone on the team, known as No. 3512 in competition and Spartatroniks in Orcutt, to attend. That’s about 40 students. Fredriks, an OAHS teacher who’s been with the team for the last five years, said the team had three weeks to raise more than $35,000, and those weeks are quickly coming to a close.

click to enlarge Orcutt Academy robotics team heads for world championships
PHOTO COURTESY OF TY FREDRIKS
ROBOT MAKERS: Orcutt Academy’s varsity robotics team is heading to St. Louis on April 22 to compete in the 2015 FIRST Robotics world championship competition.

“We don’t want finances to cause any student to be left behind,” he said. As of April 14, the team had raised between $8,000 and $10,000 in commitments from local companies.

The plane lifts off for St. Louis on April 22, and on April 18, the team is taking over the Moxie Café to hopefully raise the remaining funds with a tri-tip chili feed from 4 to 7 p.m. Meals are $10—to stay or to go, and there will also be a silent auction with wine packages, Universal Studios tickets, and more to bid on. Fredriks recommends potential fund-givers be there by 6 p.m. at the latest to get their bids in.

Moxie is generally closed on the weekends but is making a special exception for the almost 40 students on the robotics team.

“The kids are doing it all,” Fredriks said. Cooking, cleaning, serving, and whatever else is left after that.

The team competed in two regional competitions earlier this year to be able to compete in the championship competition. Before those, though, members had six weeks to design, troubleshoot, and build the specified robots for FIRST’s (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) competitions; this year’s robots are focused on recycling, and so had to be able to stack recycling bins, move trash cans, and put pool noodles—also known as trash—into the trash cans.

In the first competition, OAHS didn’t place very high in the rankings, but the team made some changes and placed second, with an ally team, which pushed them into the championships. Aiden Hudson, a sophomore in his second year on the team, said he’s proud of what the team accomplished this year. He’s a member of the mechanical team.

click to enlarge Orcutt Academy robotics team heads for world championships
PHOTO COURTESY OF TY FREDRIKS
WINNING: OAHS placed second at the last regional robotics competition.

“I pretty much work on building the chassis and frame of the robot,” he said. “I just love everything about it. The team is kind of like a family.”

Hudson said this season has been more challenging and exciting than his freshman year. The fact that something his team created, built, and competed with qualified to compete against the top 600 teams makes it that much better for him, and it’s something he has a hard time putting into words.

“I can’t even describe it,” Hudson said.

Feel like helping? Stop by the Moxie Café at 1317 McCoy Lane in Santa Maria on April 18 between 4 and 7 p.m. or visit www.spartatroniks.com.

 

School Scene is written by Managing Editor Camillia Lanham. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, email, or mail.

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