Robotics FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) Update – Dec. 2017

Just over a week ago was The  FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) second district competition at Capital High School.   The Olympia School District had a great showing fielding eight teams out of eighteen teams in the South Sound League.  In a tight race, Olympia High School’s team 6424, “OlyCow” came in first place and Capital High School teams 9876, “The Countdown” took second place, “Oly Cannoli, the Polar Bears, Unbearable and the Avanti Avenger all placed in six of the top seven spots in the South Sound League.  It was an impressive showing for the Olympia School District with six out of the eight OSD teams placing in the top third at the FTC district Competition.

On Dec. 16, the Olympia School district teams will travel to Stewart Middle School in Tacoma to compete in the FTC Inter league championship.  The top teams from the Inter League Championship will qualify for the State Championship on Feb. 11, 2018, at the Showare Center.

This year’s challenge, “Relic Recovery,” has robots reading a cypher, placing glyphs in a crypto box, balancing on a stone, removing the opponent’s jew and placing a relic outside the robot arena. . Between placing glyphs, balancing and placing the relic outside the arena, there is a lot of action going on in these matches.

These teams of students have designed, built  and programed a robot to complete as many of these tasks as possible in 2 ½ minutes.  But that’s not all!   Students will also give a ten minute presentation about their robot, team activities and turn in an engineering journal that includes their robot evolution, CAD designs, outreach and more.

With such a great showing at districts, many of the OSD teams will be headed to state in Feb.  –  And as always….  I will keep you updated with the exciting robot news.

Check out this video to learn more about “Relic Recovery!”  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wc1LhG2FEs&t=2s