LANCASTER'S DYNAMITE ROBOT TEAM PREPARING FOR MAJOR CONTEST.Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer LANCASTER - Seven electric motors, 18 wheels, seven speed controllers and a target-tracking camera went into a robot that will compete in regional and national contests by shooting foam balls at a goal. The Lancaster High School Lancaster High School may refer to:
``The naming of the robot is first thing we do in September. The season started out on a difficult note. We lost one of our friends and team members, Tyler Duggins, in a car accident. Tyler's memory was still very fresh. As a team we made the decision early on that we wanted to name the robot in some way in his memory,'' said Kevin Spoelstra, team adviser. ``Tragically, Tyler's father passed away at one of the competitions. In memory of Thomas Duggins as well, they came up with the name of TnT.'' ``Thomas was a master welder and Tyler was an active member of the manufacturing team,'' said Lancaster High senior Benji Coleman-Levy, the team's chief financial officer. ``Both are dearly missed this season. Not only is the robot named TnT because we are dynamite, but because they were.'' The boxy box·y adj. box·i·er, box·i·est Resembling a box, especially in simplicity or rectangularity. box  i·ness n. robot, measuring 3 feet by 2 feet by nearly 5 feet,
utilizes a mechanism similar to that used in baseball pitching machines
to shoot the balls at an 8 1/2-foot-tall goal.
``It uses spinning wheels against a stationary top wall. A foam ball is fed into the spinning wheels, compresses the ball and shoots it out the front,'' Spoelstra said. The robot will compete against other high schools' robots in a contest sponsored by For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, or FIRST, to encourage students to become involved in math, science and technology by letting them work with professionals on hands-on projects. The Lancaster robotics team was first formed in 1999. With the help of professionals, the team every year has six weeks to design, assemble and test a robot capable of performing a specified task. TnT is the most advanced robot the team has ever built, Spoelstra said. The robot was unveiled Thursday in the Lancaster High theater. Its motor whirring whir v. whirred, whir·ring, whirs v.intr. To move so as to produce a vibrating or buzzing sound. v.tr. To cause to make a vibratory sound. n. 1. , the robot shot balls into the air and climbed a ramp onto a platform on the stage. In attendance was Jackie Duggins, Tyler's mother and Thomas' wife. She was given a foam ball signed by team members. ``I love this team. I feel very honored. My son enjoyed this team very much. My husband enjoyed it, too,'' Duggins said. Team sponsors include HR Textron, International Test and Evaluation Association, Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is an aerospace and defense conglomerate that is the result of the 1994 purchase of Grumman by Northrop. The company is the third largest defense contractor for the U.S. , Lockheed Martin For the former company, see . Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is a leading multinational aerospace manufacturer and advanced technology company formed in 1995 by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta. , NASA NASA: see National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA in full National Aeronautics and Space Administration Independent U.S. Dryden, BAE Systems BAE Systems British manufacturer of aircraft, missiles, avionics, naval vessels, and other aerospace and defense products. BAE Systems was formed (1999) from the merger of British Aerospace (BAe) with Marconi Electronic Systems. , Lancaster Mazda, US Pole, Knights of Columbus Knights of Columbus, American Roman Catholic society for men, founded (1882) at New Haven, Conn. (where its headquarters are still located), by Father Michael J. McGivney. and Lancaster West Rotary. Diane Grooms, Lancaster School District Lancaster School District may refer to:
``The robotics team and its method of learning is one of the best investments we have to develop the work force of the future,'' Grooms said. Karen Maeshiro, (661) 267-5744 karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- 3 -- color) At top, the Lancaster High School robotics team unveils ``TnT,'' named after team member Tyler Duggins, who was killed in a car crash, and his father, Thomas, who died of a heart attack. Above, a bank of eight speed controllers, or Victors, for the robot's motors. Left, a hopper marked with the emblems of the team's sponsors holds the foam balls the machine shoots. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion