School News

The March madness of machines

Seaford High headed to Robotics competition

Posted

Seaford High School’s Robotics and Engineering Club will put its creation to the test this Friday at the FIRST science competition at Hofstra University.

This is the third year the school is participating in the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology event, and the students have high aspirations. This year, their robot must lift and stack plastic tote boxes and recycling bins.

There will be 54 teams at the competition in the Hofstra basketball arena, which begins with a practice day on March 26, followed by two days of competition. Most teams will be from area high schools, along with international competitors from Israel and Brazil.

In its first year, Seaford finished 14th and won the Rookie All-Star Award. Last year it placed 26th out of 52 teams, and students are expecting a much better performance this year. Club advisor Nick Isgro, a technology teacher at the high school, said his students have been committed to the process. “It’s very hard to make one of these,” he said, “so when they do, they gain a lot of confidence.”

The team is provided with a chassis, but all other components are up to them. There are maximum dimensions for the robot, and it cannot weigh more than 120 pounds, but there is also a lot of flexibility for its design.

He said that it is important to build a robot that stands out, so Seaford added green LED lights to the bottom of its creation. The students also had to build a 10-foot by 10-foot pit in which the robot will perform its task. They will also wear matching T-shirts at the competition.

“You have to be noticed,” Isgro said. “You have to dress the part. Your pit has to look good. There are 54 teams, so it’s hard to stand out.”

There are about 30 students in the club, and they are split into different teams which focus on different areas of the process. Some students were responsible for building, others for programming, and another group did the electrical work.

The team had a six-week window to build its robot. Once that time period ended, no more alterations were allowed. Senior Andrew Diana said that good teamwork was necessary to get the project done on time. “If we can all focus our efforts,” he said, “we can get more done in the six-week time gap. That time flies by.”

Diana said he is pleased with the finished product and is excited for the competition.

Ellen Park, a sophomore, is participating in the event for the second year and loves the atmosphere of the competition. “Even if you lose,” she said, “everybody has fun. It’s about learning new things.”

Senior Elena Alberti, a three-year member of the club, said the students are becoming more serious about the competition each year and wants Seaford to be recognized as one of the better teams.

She explained that building a good robot requires a willingness to explore new ideas. “I think risk at some level is always worth it,” she said, “because even if it doesn’t work out, you learn something.”

Sophomore Timothy McCarthy is one of several members of the club who is looking to work in the engineering field when he gets older, and is getting some hands-on experience in high school.

The district pays for the club’s entry free and for $5,000 worth of materials. The rest of the money was received through donations, and the club is looking for a corporate sponsor in the future.

Preparing for the competition often meant staying at school until 8 p.m. during the height of the building process. “It takes a lot of patience and long hours, a lot of trial and error,” Isgro said. “They can’t get defeated when something doesn’t go right.”

He said the goal for Seaford this year is to be one of eight teams to make it to the finals, which will be held on Saturday.