Engineering A-Level students from SBU6 are competing in this year’s FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), an international robotics competition for students aged 12–18. While this is the first time a team from the Sixth Form have entered the well-established competition, two team members, Adam and Chris, have several years’ experience and are pulling together a team of exciting robotics talent.
The competition sees teams design, build and program robots to compete in a new game challenge each season. Using a standard kit of parts or by creating their own, teams solve engineering problems, write code, and test their designs to score points on the field. This supports students to develop problem-solving, communication, and technical experience for future STEM careers.
With the first qualifier coming up in March, the SBU6 team have been supported on their journey thanks to generous sponsorship from Accu Components, who have provided upwards of £750 in store credits. This is not only helping build the team’s robots, but is also extending opportunities for practical work throughout the sixth form’s engineering department. Team member Chris explains, “Throughout our multiple designs this season, we have used thousands of Accu’s fasteners. We chose Accu for their strength and reliability and their fasteners hold together our crucial scoring subsystem, the ‘hooded shooter’.”
More about this year’s FTC game
The game this year is entitled ‘DECODE’. Within the game, two alliances (each made up of 2 teams) compete to score purple and green artifacts in their goal and build patterns on their ramps that match a randomised motif shown at the start of each match.
The matches consist of 3 periods. In the Autonomous Period, robots operate using pre-written programs and sensors to “decode” the match motif and begin scoring points by placing artifacts and completing patterns. In the Tele-Op Period, drivers manually control robots to collect and score more artifacts, load them from the loading zone, and work toward building patterns. In the End Game, alliances can earn extra points by returning both robots to the base area before time expires.
SBU6 Team members
Pulling together a team including all the lower sixth Engineering A-Level students are Adam and Chris. Adam is a three-time UK Champion who has competed in robotics events across the world, including five years of FTC experience. Chris has previously competed with the Ladywell Robotics team, ranked 27th in the UK, and has three years of FTC experience. The team are being supported by SBU6 Engineering lecturers Mr Tse and Mr Hodgson.
Keep an eye on our website and social media for updates on the team’s progress.
