Groves robotics
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Often described as the “ultimate mind sport,” the design and piloting of remote controlled robotics is becoming much more than just a Discovery Channel television show. Since the first of the year, U.S. Army TARDEC, has worked hand in hand with a group of students from Birmingham, Michigan, Groves High School to design and build a state-of-the-art competitive remote controlled robot.
Part of the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition, the Groves team and their TARDEC mentors worked to solve a common problem in only a six-week time frame. Given a standard kit of parts and a common set of rules the students, with technical guidance and sponsorship from TARDEC, were challenged to build a remote controlled robot capable of quickly navigating an obstacle course, lifting objects and placing them onto a standing target. The robot must complete this while being physically challenged by competing robots on the same course.
A total team effort was underway in January and February to build the robot. Groves’s students worked endless hours to fabricate and perfect the robot’s electronics, drive train, engines and body. TARDEC provided design oversight and rapid prototyping of certain robotic body hardware. After completing several successful dry runs, the robot was ready to ship on schedule February 22. The first regional competition was set to begin one month later.
The students did not sit idle for the month preceding the competition. They built a second robot for practice. Using a course set up at the high school, the team under the watchful eye of their teacher, Steve Ligget and TARDEC mentor Jack Jones put the practice robot through every scenario imaginable. As the competition drew closer, adjustments that could be made were noted and anticipation grew.
March 18, students of the Groves team assembled at the 2005 Detroit Regional FIRST Robotics Competition at Wayne State University. There they competed against more than 33 region teams; many sponsored by such companies as Ford, Delphi, General Motors and DaimlerChrysler. The Groves robot had to be easy to control, stable and strong to make it in what Jack Jones called, “the most gut wrenching rounds I’ve ever seen.”
After a day and a half of spirited three-on-three matches and with dignitaries such as U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow present to show support, the Groves/TARDEC team finished the qualifying rounds as a fourth seed. They and their two alliance partner teams went into the semifinal round as a favorite, but due to a rule violation by one of the partners, finished with a disappointing elimination.
The team now plans to take on more competition, according to Liggett; “We plan to compete again in Michigan later this month and possibly at the national competition in Atlanta. But all this could not have been possible without dedicated students, supportive parents and the expertise TARDEC provided. It has been a winning situation for everyone involved. These kids have gained valuable real-world experience out of this program.”
TARDEC considers the FIRST Robotics events an essential part of its outreach program and in addition to helping the Groves team, was a sponsor of the Detroit regional, provided a judge and referee for the event, and will also provide a judge to the National event in Atlanta. The level of success of the TARDEC projects over the last two years, has led the participants to believe this program is achieving exactly what it set out to do. TARDEC engineer Teresa Gonda, a regional and national judge says, “Through this program, kids in high school have begun to think of science and technology as exceptionally cool and they have become inspired to think in terms of careers in these fields. This is great for them and encouraging for the future of our country.”
