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Date: 2/27/2019
EAST LONGMEADOW – “Hey guys,” Peter Van Buren called out to his students as a contraption made of metal and elastic bands whirred across the floor. “There is a battery very, very, loose on that robot. Put a zip-tie on it.”
The students are members of the East Longmeadow High School robotics club. The students work in teams, creating robots that are designed to compete with one another. The robots consist of metal and wire components, batteries, motors, zip ties, and elastic bands.
All of the parts come from Vex Robotics. Vex is a company that creates robotics kits for students and educators and hosts robotic competitions. Using only Vex components creates a level playing field and ensures all of the robots are safe.
“You don't have to worry about someone’s robot catching fire because a battery is to too powerful,” said Van Buren.
Van Buren began the club in 2007 with the school first competing a year later. Three of this year’s teams have qualified to go to regionals in Worcester. Of the 76 teams there, the students hope to be one of the 16 that will make it to the world championship in Louisville, Kentucky. East Longmeadow has competed in the world championship eight out of the last 11 years.
Two robots from each school compete against an opposing team in an enclosure in which there are various goals. The robots must be capable of turning plastic flags, placing caps on poles, and driving up onto a platform.
The students have tweaked and changed their designs since the beginning of the year, learning through trial and error. They have learned how to write code for the robots to perform autonomously, as well as by remote control.
Adam Meyrick, a senior, and Glenna Garber, a junior, are working on a “shooter” robot that picks up yellow balls and launches them at target flags. Sean Callahan and Joey Smith are working a separate shooter.
Juniors, Cameron Bacon, Bradley Voight, Jason Chartier, and Giun-Shian Braverman designed a different style of robot with an articulated “elbow.” Their robot was designed to be “the perfect teammate for a good shooter,” Bacon said.
“We're replacing the wheels on our robot right now because they didn't have enough traction,” Bacon explained as his teammates attached green wheels with large treads. He said the original, smoother wheels were causing the robot to turn too slowly.
“A lot of this game is pushing people around, de-scoring the enemy while trying to get your own score,” said Bacon.
Many of the students had no experience with robotics at the beginning of the year.
“A common misconception is that everybody thinks you have to be a genius to build a robot. It’s a very inclusive club, kids come in with different skills,” said Van Buren.
The robotics club has several sponsors, including, Busy Bees Preschool, The Cruise Store, East Longmeadow Educational Endowment Fund, East Longmeadow Rotary Club, Excel Dryer, Lenox Tools, LM Tarbell, Meadow Place Dental, Pizza Shoppe, and Whitestone Marketing.
Anyone who would like to help sponsor the robotics team can contact Van Buren at peter.vanburen@eastlongmeadowma.gov
Van Buren said the East Longmeadow High School administration has been very supportive of the robotics club, and of STEM initiatives, in general. East Longmeadow High School has also begun an engineering program with a $35,000 grant from Project Lead the Way.