Sudbury robotics team makes Canadian history with double qualification for world championships
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School in Sudbury has made history by becoming the first Canadian team to qualify for both the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) and the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) world championships in the same year. A group of about 30 students from the school have traveled to Houston, Texas, to compete in the prestigious event.
One of the students, Grade 12 student Maija Nener, expressed her surprise at finding a passion for robotics at Lo-Ellen. The FTC competition, which involves smaller robots and team sizes, provides a stepping stone for under-resourced teams and younger students to get started before moving on to FRC, where robots weigh around 120 pounds.
Student Kate Brett highlighted the differences between the two competitions, explaining that the main trend in FRC is to pick up and place objects while competing against other teams. Another student, Lane Boyuk, emphasized the ever-changing nature of the games in both competitions.
This year’s game is called Reefscape and has a water-themed concept. Teams earn points based on the tasks their robot completes, such as picking up coral pipes and scoring balls called algae. The team spent about two months designing and building the robot they are taking to Houston.
The team’s qualification for the championships holds special significance as they received an engineering inspiration award for their efforts in promoting FTC and FRC to other schools in northern Ontario. The students credited their school’s robotics program for sparking their interest in pursuing mechanical or general engineering after graduation.
While there is no monetary prize at stake, the students are motivated by the honor and awards that can help sustain their program in the future. The championships are set to conclude this weekend, with results expected to be announced next week. The experience of competing on the world stage is invaluable for the students as they continue to pursue their passion for robotics.
