Qualifying Tourney (VIDEOS)

Redstone Robotics Incorporated traveled west to Catlin Gable School for their very first qualifying tournament on Dec. 3, 2016. It was a real roller-coaster of a day with high highs and low lows. But on balance, it was the perfect learning experience for us to grow as a team and take with us into next year's competition season.

DAY IN THE LIFE (compilation)

First up was our ROBOT PRESENTATION where the team showed off the physical design of their robot and walk the judges through some of their programming techniques used to perform the Animal Allies missions.

The judges liked the soundness of our construction (meaning it was durable and things wouldn't fall off), but the team got mixed reviews on the accuracy with which it performed the tasks. On the programming side, the judges liked the straight-forwardness of the coding but wanted us to link more tasks together and use more sensors to avoid timed turns.

Next up for the team was their first ROBOT RUN (which was a disaster). Our second run (see below) 90 minutes later was the best of the day for the team, and good for 4th place. The team's third run doesn't really count, since the robot was working off of a concussion and was wandering aimlessly around the playing field with a flashing orange light. Our lesson learned for the day is to plan for the unexpected and design the robot to work 100% of the time. Since the playing conditions might be slightly different from practice, it is doubly important that we have a playing field to practice on that has side-walls and not just billiard pockets.

The team did well in their CORE VALUES presentation and nearly nailed the challenge task, working well together and coming to consensus on a solution. It is very difficult for a team that has worked together for only eight weeks to "get" these core values, but the judges were nearly unanimous in giving the team the second-highest grade, with comments such as "very promising team", and "good communication of different aspects of work." Suggestions include making sure ALL have a chance to speak.

Finally, the team was less than at full strength for the Project Presentation. But a smooth appearance at the end nearly saved the day. Lessons to take in to next year include: (1) having the kids themselves research the problem and ask experts, (2) have the kids practice their elevator pitch in getting their point across quickly and clearly, and (3) if there is a skit, have it memorized and in their own words. If it looks like the coach did everything, then we're going to get low marks. I think we'll vastly improve our performance on this task next year.

Now that Redstone Robotics Incorporated has gone through a full season, and we have seen the scoring criteria and competition conditions, we will be a greatly improved team next year. I can't wait to see what 2017 brings!!