FIRST FTC Robotics Competition

On January 28, 2023, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), held its Gulf Coast Metro League FIRST Tech Challenge at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. This year’s challenge, called Power Play, consisted of teams placing plastic cones at various sized junctions located across the playing field. There were nine round junctions and 16 junctions of different heights (low, medium, and high) mounted with flexible springs. Each team’s robot needed to place plastic cones at the junctions to score points, the higher the junction, the more points were awarded. There were additional ways in which teams could score points such as placing their robot, towards the end of the match, at a certain location, placing a custom designed beacon at a junction, etc.   

The competitions are challenging, but rewarding, “They get all the practice that they need to learn their soft skills and build the confidence they need to be leaders,” said Sandy Riggs, Collegiate High School & Harold T. Branch High School Robotics Teacher. “They take initiative, build relationships, and they understand what teamwork is; they become go-getters. They become doers.”

Each team conducted a presentation to a panel of judges. The presentation consisted of teams talking about their team’s organization, their robot design, and their fundraising and community outreach efforts. After the presentations, the matches began. Matches were played with four randomly selected teams which were paired up into an alliance. Two alliances competed against each other to try to score the most points in the 2 minutes and 30 seconds that the matches lasted.

The competition “might look scary, it might look intimidating, but if you keep going, it's going to be some of the best moments,” said Ashley Morehead, Gregory Portland Robotics Alumna. “With competing you're trying to work together, but also better yourself.”

Each team had a coach and mentors—who are usually alumni—that helped them with fundraising, solving problems, registration, and overall assistance with preparations and competing.

This competition is for everyone, “It doesn't matter if you love robotics or if you're good at doing mechanics,” said Sara Turner, Gregory Portland ISD teacher. “It allows a lot of different people to work together because we have a lot of people who are good at art, and so they do art styles for graphics, design, and videos. So, I think it's a good program that brings a lot of different types of students together.”

At the end of the event, judges and referees presented awards based on different aspects such as best robot design, also, an announcement was made as to which teams advanced to the next round of competitions, either at the regional or semi-regional level.

The judges first place awards for 2023 season were as follows:

• Inspire Award — Team #12302 G-P Robotics Synergy from Gregory-Portland HS
• Design Award — Team #13266 Droid Rage Apex from Collegiate HS
• Motivate Award — Team #13833 Deep Space Dolphins from Kaffie MS
• Control Award — Team #15725 G-P Robotics Dissension from Gregory-Portland HS
• Innovate Award — Team #16831 G-P Robotics Entropy from Gregory-Portland HS
• Connect Award — Team #16832 G-P Robotics Unity from Gregory-Portland HS
• Think Award — Team #10862 Droid Rage Nebula from Collegiate HS.

Teams advancing to regionals in San Antonio are:

• Team #12302 G-P Robotics Synergy from Gregory-Portland HS
• Team #16832 G-P Robotics Unity from Gregory-Portland HS
• Team #10862 Droid Rage Nebula from Collegiate HS.

Teams advancing to semi-regionals in Portland include:

• Team #15725 G-P Robotics Dissension from Gregory-Portland HS
• Team #16828 G-P Robotics Fusion from Gregory-Portland
• Team #11924 Martin Robots from Martin MS
• Team #16831 G-P Robotics Entropy from Gregory-Portland HS
• Team #13833 Deep Space Dolphins from Kaffie MS
• Team #13266 Droid Rage Apex from Collegiate HS
• Team #18458 Battery Chargerz from Harold T. Branch Academy.

Teams advancing to semi-regionals in Buda include:

• Team #15930 Pirates from Rockport HS
• Team #16251 Robo Pirates from Rockport HS.