Teen Robotics Team Advances to World Championship with Unique Robot

PRESS CONTACT:

Debra L. Grill, Principal

Centers of Learning

8854 Haskell Avenue, North Hills, CA

Email: debra.grill@centersoflearning.com

T: +1 818.894.3213

M: +1 818.568.2476

North Hills, CA – April 12, 2016 ­­– A unique hanging robot design helped propel the Centers of Learning robotics team, Team Torch, to take the Gold Division “Winning Alliance” at the FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC) West Super Regional in Oakland last month and to advance to the World Championship in St. Louis, MO on April 27-30.

The 2016 FTC challenge is called “RES-Q™.” The challenge simulates an avalanche rescue where the robot must perform a series of specific tasks, performed in sequence, and done autonomously as well as with a driver control. The tasks include removing debris, resetting rescue beacons, delivering climbers to a shelter, and parking on the mountain.

“When we were presented with this year’s RES-Q challenge, our team members brainstormed ideas and priorities for our robot design,” says Coach Rick Loomis. “We ultimately settled on a design strategy to make our robot hang on a frame during the last 30 seconds of a match and claim an all-clear signal.”

After several ideas and building and testing many prototypes, the one design that proved to be the most robust and consistent was to use a tape measure to run out a heavy string up to the hanging bar, resulting in the team having a large point-scoring system that has made them one of the outstanding innovative teams.

The team will now take their robot to the 2016 FTC World Championship, a four-day robotics championship consisting of the top qualifying teams from the five USA Super Regional Tournaments, as well as from 18 other countries.

“Team Torch has shined brilliantly over these past three days of competition against the best teams in the West,” says Loomis, “and we look forward to successfully competing against the very best teams in the world in St. Louis.”

About Centers of Learning

Established in 1974, Centers of Learning is a toddler through grade 12 private Christian school that prepares students of all faiths and backgrounds for college, career, and a successful, purpose-filled life. Our staff embodies talent and personal integrity and challenges students to excel personally and academically, and to impact the world around them. First and foremost, Centers of Learning is committed to providing its students with an academic experience that encompasses their whole development—academic, spiritual and physical. The program is designed to foster critical thinking and inquiry and provide experiences where knowledge gained is also applied. For more information visit www.centersoflearning.com