Schools
Youth Connection: Geared up for Robotics
Interlake High School's robotics team takes first at recent regional tournament. They head to St. Louis today.
By Eric Sun
’s Saints Robotics recently won the Seattle Olympic Regional in the F.I.R.S.T. (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition. Competing against one hundred other teams hailing from Turkey to cross town rival Sammamish High School, Interlake Saints Robotics went on an undefeated run in the finals to clinch its first regional championship title.
In just six weeks, teams each had to design and construct a 120 pound robot and minibot. The competition, named Logomotion to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the FIRST competition, involves matches between two teams of three robots which compete to hang large triangular, circular, and square inflated tubes on vertical racks. During the last fifteen seconds, the larger robots can release their minibots to race up poles. Interlake’s robot featured a three-jointed robotic arm that was hand-crafted out of marine plywood, and a minibot that was designed to race up the pole in four seconds.
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After the general “qualification rounds,” Interlake finished with a 6-4 record and ranked 15th. Interlake then teamed up with the Puyallup High School “Horns of Havoc” and the Salem-based “Hot Wire Robotics” for the thrilling final elimination rounds to win the championship-- ending with the dramatic upset of the number one ranked team in the finals.
In addition to winning the competition, Saints Robotics garnered several other awards, from the Best Website Award to the prestigious Chairman’s Award, the highest award offered by FIRST which recognizes a team’s lasting impact and inspiration in transforming the culture of its community. Team President Kevin Kimura also took honors, winning the FIRST Dean’s List award, which recognizes effective leadership and inspiration.
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Both the championship win and the Chairman’s award qualify Interlake for the national championship at St. Louis on April 27th to April 30th. As they repair their robot and ready for the move to St. Louis, the Saints look forward to facing off against top teams from 43 other regionals.
Eric Sun writes for Youth Connection, a publication of Bellevue .