SOLON — At the signal, small robots looking like Erector Sets on steroids with wires, battery packs, servos, and motors moved out of their starting points under the guidance of their human overlords. Methodically the machines scooped up “pixels,” drove to a sloped board, and deployed various appendages in an effort to place them upon it before gathering more all while a timer ticked off the seconds to the end of the challenge. A few successful robots latched onto a bar mounted over the course and lifted themselves up to swing in victory while others launched a paper airplane aiming for a landing zone outside the course. Still others just sat on the playing surface to the great disappointment and frustration of the humans, who gently scooped up their broken mechanical friends and carted them back to “the pits,” a nearby work room.
Such was the scene Thursday, Nov. 30 at the Solon Community Center as Solon Robotics hosted their only home tournament of the 2023-2024 season.
For Bill Mattaliano, this is his 16th season overseeing Solon’s program and the 35 students from 7th through 12th grade participating this year. “We play FIRST Tech Challenge and every year they have a new challenge (game) that they design and the students have to build a robot to try and complete that challenge for points and awards,” he said. Those points and awards add up and factor into advancing to the state competition in Coralville next March.
FIRST Tech Challenge encourages students to design, build, program, and operate robots to compete head-to-head against other robots while operating in an “alliance format,” which could see a Solon team and another school’s team competing together as “the red alliance” against two other teams forming a “blue alliance.” Adult coaches and mentors work with the students as they develop Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) skills, develop and practice engineering skills, realize the value of hard work and innovation, and work as a team.
14 teams in total (four from Solon) competed last Thursday and Solon Robotics is in a league with six matches comprising the regular season. Solon will compete Saturday, Dec. 16 at Iowa City West High and Saturday, Jan. 6 at Belle Plaine ahead of the league tournament Saturday, Jan. 20 in West Burlington. The Iowa Championship will be held in Coralville March 1 and 2.
“Even though we broke three of the four robots we placed on the field, all teams did a great job of competing and fighting for every point,” Mattaliano said. “Of the 19 teams in our league, Solon teams are placed very well midway through our meets.”
For more information on Solon Robotics go to www.solonrobotics.com or email Mattaliano at [email protected].
Abby Kramer prepares team Savage Revolution’s robot in the moments before competition.