PCM robotics has made a name for themselves throughout the community this past year. Just to recap the team’s success from last year, on Saturday Nov. 5 the team hosted one of their first meets of the season at the middle school. During their match they scored 193 points which managed to surpass the world record by a significant margin. The team went to big competitions and kept getting better and better. The team made it to state and then made it all the way to Worlds in Houston, Tx.
This year’s robotics team is a whole new team with only a couple people returning. The team is only freshmen and sophomores.
“It is easier with so many different minds and new people joining. We have so many different ideas that pop up,” said returning robotics member, Mason Gilje. “One of the harder parts is that since we don’t have anybody as experienced, we’re still fresh on learning how to code, how to use C.A.D. and stuff like that.”
The robotics competition play style has changed from last year to this year. Last year they had to pick up cones and put them on different towers. This year they have to take the pixels and place them on a backboard and they have to fall like a plinko game. So far this year they have been working on a robot that moves fast across the playing area and moves more efficiently.
“Our team goals are to have a working robot that can fully do the challenges that are set up this year and to make it to state,” Gilje said.
The team also has a new coach. Highschool S.T.E.M. and engineering teacher Mr. West decided to step up and be the leader of the team.
“I want us to get better every week. I want them to get a sense of accomplishment and I would love for us to advance beyond the league tournament but mainly I would want to build a good foundation for the years to come,” said West on the goals for the season. “If you would like to try coding, if you enjoy building things, if you like a team environment or fun environment, if you think you might be interested, it is definitely worth checking out one of our practices.”
The team has 6 competitions bi-weekly until late December. They have their second competition on Saturday Nov. 4 from 8 am-4 pm at Lakewood Elementary School.
