Formed six years ago, students on the 4-H Ocosta Wild Robotocats team have competed for the past five years in the international FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), which combines sport with science and technology.
Team members
This year’s 4-H Ocosta Wild Robotocats team includes the following students: OHS Senior Kyle Bambauer is the only remaining charter member, now in his 6th season. Seniors Jasmine Wilkinson and Tom Perrette are in their fifth season, along with OHS junior Kaylie Prieur. Aaron Doull is in his 3rd season. This is the second season for Enapay Croy, Kaden Smith, Kyle Maben and Sam Perrette. Newcomers to the team this year include Ashton Roberts, Cosmo Silver, Evan Smith, and Samatha Starkey and Elliott Watkins.
Longtime mentors include Dan Watkins, Joe Prieur, Rick Bambauer and a fourth individual who chooses to remain behind the scenes.
FIRST program
Teams of students and adult mentors compete annually under strict FIRST Robotics Competition rules with limited resources and extreme time constraints to build and operate a robot capable of doing a different set of specific tasks.
They then compete against other teams at district, state and regional levels, working to earn points at each meet in hopes of earning enough to qualify for a coveted slot at the International FIRST Robotic Competition Championships held in late March each year. This year’s FIRST Robotics International Championships are set for March 23-27 in St. Louis, Missouri.
2016 Robot Build now
The 2016 season kicked off Jan. 9, with the unveiling of this year’s game called FIRST STRONGHOLD. That same day, the clock started ticking on the tight six-week schedule allowed for each team’s robot build.
Each season presents a different challenge requiring a new robot design. Teams have six weeks to design, build, test and practice with their robot before the qualifying competitions begin. This year’s official Stop Build Day is Feb. 23 at 11:59 p.m.
FIRST STRONGHOLD is played on a 27 ft. by 54 ft. field. The game is played by two alliances of three teams each. Alliances compete against each other to breach their opponents’ defenses, known as outer works, and capture their tower. They score points by crossing elements of their opponents’ outer works, scoring ‘boulders’ (foam-filled balls) in their opponents’ tower goals and surrounding and scaling their opponents’ tower itself.
Each alliance commands one tower, five defenses, and a ‘secret passage’ that allows their robots to restock on ammunition.
One defense in each alliance’s set of five - the low bar - is a permanent part of the field. Three defenses are selected strategically by the alliance prior to the start of their match. The final defense changes periodically by audience selection.
Each FIRST STRONGHOLD match begins with a 15-second autonomous period in which robots operate independently of human control. During this period, robots attempt to cross opposing defenses and score in the opposing tower. Points are assigned for reaching and crossing a defense, getting a boulder in a low or high tower goal.
During the remaining two minutes and 15 seconds of the match, robots are controlled by student drivers from behind their castle wall at the end of the field. Teams on an alliance work together to cross defenses, weaken the opposing tower by scoring boulders in it, and finally surround, scale and capture the tower. Additional points are awarded in this round for reaching the same objectives as in the first period.
Alliance rankings
Alliances are ranked by a combination of their Win-Loss-Tie record, breach success, and tower capture success. A win is determined by comparing total match points between alliances at the end of the match and earns an alliance two ranking points. Ties earn an alliance one ranking point. Capturing an opponents’ tower at the end of the match earns each team on the alliance one ranking point. Breaching an opponents’ outer works by crossing four of the five defenses twice earns an additional ranking point.
Ranking points are the primary way teams are ranked during qualification rounds.
Year-round participation
The stated Mission of the 4-H Ocosta Wild Robotocats team is to produce a positive learning environment encouraging teamwork, self-confidence, and ingenuity through mentorship - incorporating Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) and vocational skills. The team also works with the Ocosta School District and Grays Harbor County 4-H to further the inclusion of STEM and vocational curriculum in the school system.
Throughout the year, students meet regularly to raise funds, market their brand, hone teamwork and design skills, and then design, build, and program their robot to compete in the game.
Learn more and help
For more information about the team, visit www.FRC3787.com or on Facebook at: 4-H Ocosta Wild Robotocats.
If you would like to help the 4-H Ocosta Wild Robotocats by volunteering or in any other way, please contact the team. More adult mentors are needed and more student team members are always welcome.
Students also are thankful for any donations and/or sponsorships for their program, which are all tax-deductible. Donations help pay for major travel expenses to competitions and materials for robot builds.