MORE Robotics to Compete at the 2009 FIRST Robotics International Championship
After successfully competing in two regional competitions, the Thomas More Community Robotics Club, also known as MORE Robotics, will be traveling to Atlanta to compete in the 2009 FIRST Robotics International Championship. After 2 successful competitions, MORE Robotics has earned the right to compete in this International Championship to be held on April 16th – 18th in the Georgia Dome.
During the past month, MORE Robotics competed in the 2009 FIRST Robotics Wisconsin Regional and the 2009 FIRST Robotics 10,000 Lakes Minnesota Regional. On Saturday, March 14th, MORE Robotics was awarded the Chairman’s Award at the Wisconsin Regional Competition. The Chairman’s Award represents the spirit of FIRST. It honors the team that, in the judges’ estimation, best represents a model for other teams to emulate, and which embodies the goals and purpose of FIRST. It remains FIRST’s most prestigious award.
On Saturday, April 4th, MORE Robotics, won the 2009 FIRST Robotics Minnesota 10,000 Lakes Regional Competition. After winning their quarter final and semi final matches, this alliance went on to win their final match by a score of 70 to 46. They also won the Rockwell Automation Innovation in Control Award for their innovative control system that uses a camera to locate and track opponent’s trailers and assist with scoring game balls. MORE Robotics also was a runner for the Underwriters Laboratories Industrial Safety Award at both regional competitions.
By winning these awards, MORE Robotics has earned the right to compete in the 2009 FIRST Robotics Championship. This international competition will feature the best teams in the world. Less than 400 teams out of a total of more than 1,680 teams in the world are eligible to compete. This is the 4th year in a row that MORE Robotics will be competing at this Championship Competition.
The FIRST Robotics Competition is an annual competition that helps students discover the rewards and excitement of science, engineering, and technology. More than 42,000 high-school students on 1,686 teams from the U.S., Brazil, Canada, Chile, Germany, Israel, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Turkey, and the U.K. are participating in this year’s competition.
In this year’s competition entitled “Lunacy” robots are designed to pick up 9" game balls and score them in trailers hitched to their opponents’ robots for points during a 2 minute and 15 second match. Additional points are awarded for scoring a special game ball, the Super Cell, in the opponents' trailers during the last 20 seconds of the match. “Lunacy” is played on a low-friction floor, which means teams must contend with the laws of physics.
MORE Robotics is a community team made up of 31 high school students from Saint Thomas More, Oak Creek, Cudahy, Greenfield, and Homestead High Schools. Adult mentors and teachers lead students in the design, building, and programming of 120 pound remote controlled robots for competition. Student team members are encouraged to excel in the study of science and technology with the hope that they will become the next generation of engineers, technological leaders, and entrepreneurs that will help make our world a better place.
MORE Robotics is supported by local companies and universities. Our major sponsors include Quad Tech, Rockwell Automation, Siemens, Ladish Co., Milwaukee SPE, Marquette University, American Nuclear Society RRSD, MSOE, GE Healthcare, ABB Robotics, American Acrylics USA, LLC, and Saint Thomas More High School. Additional information about MORE Robotics and FIRST Robotics can be found by visiting their website: www.morerobotics.org.
