RMHS Robotics Team "The Robockets" Rank 9th at the Reading District Event

This past weekend the RMHS robotics team, “The Robockets,” competed in the Reading District Event held for the first time at Reading Memorial High School. FRC/FIRST Robotics competitions are known for showcasing and developing the talent of our students, the “future of engineering,” in America. In the Reading event, 40 of the 160 total robotics teams from the New England District competed in the 2015 game challenge “Recycle Rush” for top honors. As a third-year team, the RMHS Robockets ranked 11th at the end of qualification rounds, became an alliance captain during alliance selections, and made it to semi-finals. During the event, The Robockets won the illustrious FIRST Entrepreneurship award, which “celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit by recognizing a team that has developed the framework for a comprehensive business plan to scope, manage, and achieve team objectives.” Highlights of the Reading District Event include:

· The active participation of Adam Bakr (RMHS principal) and John Doherty (Reading School District Superintendent) as event judges;

· RMHS math teacher Mentor Chuck Strout being identified as a finalist for the Woodie Flowers Mentor of the Year Award;

· FIRST District Event Co-chair and Reading community member Sanat Patel being awarded the Volunteer Of The Year award by the FIRST event committee;

· And the appearance of both Woodie Flowers and Dean Kamen, founding members of the FIRST organization.

The Robockets will next participate in the Rhode Island District Event March 21–22 at Bryant University in Smithfield, RI. Based on their performance at these two district events, they hope to qualify for the New England Regional Championship April 8–11 at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Please follow us on Facebook (FRC Team 4761 “The Robockets”), Instagram (Robockets.4761) or Twitter (#FRC4761) where we post our upcoming events and activities. The Robockets welcome all inquiries regarding fundraising and sponsorship participation. In this regard, feel free to contact David Ventola at dpventola@comcast.net or 781-779-1240 or visit our webpage (www.robockets.org) for more information.

The 2015 FIRST Robotics game challenge is Recycle Rush. The game is a recycling-themed game played by two alliances of three robotics teams each. Alliances compete simultaneously to score points by stacking totes on scoring platforms, topping those stacks with recycling containers, and properly disposing of litter (represented by pool noodles), in designated locations. The game is played in two parts: Autonomous Period (when the robots operate on code alone) and Teleoperated Period (when the student drive team controls the robot). Teams work together on an alliance to place as many totes on their scoring platforms as possible. Alliances earn additional points for placing recycling containers on the scored totes, with recycling containers at greater heights earning more points. Alliances also earn points for either disposing of their litter in their landfill zone or placing litter in or on scored recycling containers. To earn the most points, alliances must be versatile and work together in this Recycle Rush.

Team Picture:

Front row: Chuck Strout (RMHS Math teacher), Caitlin Mahoney (Team co-president), Chirag Patel (Team co-president), Sachin Patel, Sanat Patel, Adam Bakr (RMHS principal)

Second Row: Lisa Goldsmith, Will Meyers, Tim Fitzgerald, Andrew Sack, Paulaine Goldsmith, Stephan Ryan, Noah Hennings, Drew Buckley, Will McInerney, Dan Gadre

Third Row: Jacob Beckley, Simon Andrews, Thomas Walsh, Kelly Fitzgerald, Ben Cooper, Jeff Qiu, James Avtges, Jake Kinsella, Carl Andrews, Cullen Pu

Fourth Row: Lori Gordon, Mike Menzie, Matt McKiel, Tim Repetto, Dustin Rosh, Anthony D’Amico, Branden Gunn, David Krowitz, George Love

Back row: Jared Whitney, Kristin Murray