BraveBots 4682 gearing up for heavy competition

BraveBots 4682 takes the finished chassis with omni wheels out for a test drive. Johana Warrick is driving and Andrew Gilbrough is giving her instructions on how to drive. Mentor Dan Foley and team members Brendan Nenninger and Elise Valdez look after the robot’s responses.

Kelly McGinnis, Reporter
December 18, 2015

Want a new challenge? Different way to show off your inner genius?

Mentor Dan Foley shows BraveBot team members Lorenzo Tamez, Annie Mae Foley, Cormac Brown, Will Marchand, and Johana Warrick how to set up motor gears.
Mentor Dan Foley shows BraveBot team members Lorenzo Tamez, Annie Mae Foley, Cormac Brown, Will Marchand, and Johana Warrick how to set up motor gears.

The robotics team, BraveBots 4682, a challenging yet fun way to learn about robotics and technology, takes its craft seriously, competing in regional and a chance of qualifying for national competitions.

The team is run by moderator, Ms.Dixie Strunk, who has been working with Team 4682 – BraveBots since its beginnings in 2012. Almost four years later, Strunk is still at the helm.

To be in the robotics team you need to be ready for hands-on work. The jobs range from computer programming to poster making. Some jobs included fund raising, driving the robot, making buttons, maintaining the website, helping build the pit, helping at the competitions as needed and more.

On January 9th  it’s clutch time for the robotics team; that’s the day the state-wide objective, “Strong Hold”, is announced at the kickoff ceremony at Mountlake Terrace High School. From there, the team has six weeks to build the robot that can perform the requirements announced on this day.

Once the robot is built, team 4682 will compete in two district competitions. The first will take place at Glacier Peak High School on March 12 & 13, then a week later at Mt. Vernon High School on March 19 and 20. Based on their placement, they may earn the chance to compete in a regional completion in Portland on April 6-9.

For BraveBots  4682, those dates are both an eternity away, and yet so very close.  So much as to be accomplished before March, and the team only officially meets  on Wednesday and Thursday after school from 2:30 to 4:00 in room 304.  Students involved in the Robotics Team learn many things while building robots.

“The team members learn a bit about blueprinting, use the knowledge to make parts, cut the parts and fit them to the robot chassis,” said Strunk, “This allows for more accuracy and efficiency.”

The team is not alone in its efforts.  Six adult mentors advise the blueprinting, crafting, and building the robot.  One thing they all share is the desire to do their best.

“The team 4682  has not qualified for the Pacific Northwest Regionals held in Portland last year,” said Strunk,  “although we placed 2nd at the Shorewood Districts last year (March 8, 2015).” 

BraveBots 4682 is driven to be there this year.