The robotics team at Hastings Secondary College have gone back to school early to begin their 2019 campaign for the First Robotics Competition held on March 15-17, in Sydney.
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After securing a spot at the International First Robotics Competition in Houston, Texas two years in a row the team are roaring to see what this year brings.
One of the team’s veteran members, Hannah Stewart, said the team has almost doubled in members in 2019 which is great news.
“In the past we have been a really small team with each member playing a big role in getting us to our competitions but we have got lots of new members heading into this year and we are all excited about boosting our capabilities,” Hannah said.
“This week the theme of the 2019 challenge was announced and we now have just over six weeks to build our robot and work out what we want to do with our robot before it has to be bagged up.
“During this time we will make two robots – one for the competition and one for us to use as practice between the end of this six weeks and the competition.
“The second robot is very important because after we finish building it we need to learn and develop the code to move to robot around and to play the game.”
As part of planning this week the team had a visit from Bale Defence Industries in Port Macquarie to hear some of the real world possibilities that awaits them at the end of school.
New team members Zac Morgan, Matilda Stewart and Charlotte Bishop said they are excited to be on the team and have the chance to learn more about coding and robotics.
“I am really into technology and design and I am really keen to help in the design of the robot so that we can get the most out of it,” Zac said.
“A friend of mine has been on the team for a while now and I was a member of the coding club at my primary school so am excited that I now have the chance to join this pretty professional team,” Charlotte said.
“This really is next level in terms of coding and I am excited to learn a lot more. Being apart of a team like this really shows that coding is a legitimate job after school.”
“My sister has been on the team for the last two years and now I have the chance to join I can get apart of the team and see first hand what she has been doing,” Matilda said.
“I think it will be a proud and satisfying moment when we get our robot to move and do the things we want it to.”
“This week has been focused on planning what we want to happen and construction should start next week,” Zac said.
“We have started a really intense time for the team but I know we are all super committed and ready to do what it takes.”
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