The Stayner Collegiate Institute Robotics Club revealed their creation to an audience of fellow students, sponsors and family this week, using a joystick to control the machine from across the room as it shot basketballs at a series of hoops replicating those to be used at upcoming Rebound Rumble competitions in Boston and Mississauga.
The robot – which, according to Lisa Brown, a member of the Robotics Club, took six weeks and a lot of late nights to build – will compete in an alliance alongside two other machines, attempting to score as many baskets as possible in two minutes and 15 seconds.
The match will begin with a 15-second Hybrid Period, during which the competing robots will be controlled using a Microsoft Kinect (a motion capture system typically used for playing video games).
In order to gain additional points, the teams will end the match by attempting to balance their robots, up to three at a time, on bridges located in the middle of the field.
“It’s great to see the teamwork taking place,” said SCI principal Jane Seymour. “It’s a wonderful program, with plenty of opportunity for students to learn from experienced teachers.”
First Robotics Canada, the organization that is facilitating the competition, does so in the hopes of inspiring young people to be “science and technology leaders by engaging them in mentor-based programs.”
According to Brown, the program would not be possible without the generous donations from sponsors and the support of a dedicated group of mentors, which this year consisted of Aaron Bronee, Michael Szewczyk, Mark Gatemby, and Mason Elwood.
Students Connor Watt and Chris Gabriels knew very little about programming before joining the Robotics Club, but with the help of Gatemby, a professor at Georgian College, they learned quickly, successfully writing the source code for the robot.
“I’ve been very impressed with the support shown by the community,” added Seymour, noting the Bronee family in particular, who own JT Snowmobile Repair and allowed the students to use their shop to work on the robot.
Then there was Shelley Verhoek, who, on a Sunday night, brought enough spaghetti dinner for the entire team, which was working late.
“It’s heartwarming to see this kind of support,” said Seymour.
Last year in Boston, the team finished third. This year, the winning team in Boston will move on to the final competition in St. Louis, the winners of which will have an opportunity to meet President Obama.