After the season ends, a huge line of secondary students is formed in front of the robotics classroom. It was the robotics try-out. Every year the High School teams lead the try-outs which defines who enters the Team. It includes an evaluation in the areas of strategy, driving, mechanics and logic. In strategy, the students are asked a few questions about different situations in which the robot was in the middle of the game. In driving, the students have to drive a robot through obstacles and curves so we could evaluate the precision. In mechanics, the students are given a set of VEX Robotics parts and they had to build a base in 60 seconds. In logic, the students play games that have codes and combinations. After the try-outs, the aspiring members performance is evaluated by the mentors and older students.
The different sections of the Tryouts.
Before dismantling their Skyrise season robots, Team 2252D and Team 2252E were invited to present their robots at the Mini Maker Faire 2014 held at the Centro Criollo de Ciencia y Tecnología del Caribe, C3TEC for short, in Caguas, Puerto Rico. The team talked about how the robots worked and how the built it to public. They also gave live demostrations of it to the people in the event. The team took advantage of the opportunity to explain to people more about STEM and the robotic programs that are out there, including VEX Robotics. It was a fun and instructional event for everyone.
Team 2252D prepares a Mechanics course before the members arrive.
Alex from Team 2252D explains how to perfect an autonomous routine to a member.
Team 2252D prepares a Mechanics course before the members arrive.
During the month of August and September, the most experienced teams give the newly acquired members classes and talk about their experiences so that they are able to bring a highly competitive robot to their competitions. The new members are trained in areas such as Mechanics, Programming, Driving and Strategy. Each topic lasts about two weeks with little challenges along the course as well as a final challenge of having a functional minibot that is able to go through a course we create for them in an autonomous routine. After this, our teams are well prepared than most teams and are ready to excel when they reach a competition!
On September 24, 2012, one of our teams had the opportunity to exibit their robot (well, part of it) in the Pre-inaguration of the Centro Criollo de Ciencias y Tecnología del Caribe (C3TEC). This was an amazing experience since they had to explain what they do at the Robotics, how to build a robot, and what is the main goal of the game (Sack Attack) to a crowd full of students and important people such as Mayors and a few presidents and vice-presidents of big companies. The awesome part was that two newspapers came by to ask a few questions. The whole crowd seemed really intrigued about Robotics.
During demonstrations at the event Alexis Luciano, from 2252D, gives the Skyrise Sections to his robot.
(From left to right): Luis Ramírez, Enid Rodríguez and Osvaldo Rivera from Team 2252D (now known as Team 2252C) exhibiting their robot.
Once again one of our team was invited to present their robot in Nano Days 2013 at Plaza Las Américas Mall in San Juan. Just like last year, a lot of people were interested and asked about robotics, our program, what's the concept of the game, and how we built robots. Team 2252D gladly explained their robot and its design. All the awards they won during Sack Attack were presented and people were amazed by it. They were glad that there are programs in where students can develop skills in STEM at a young age while having fun. This year even more kids came by. All the kids that asked to, were thought how to use the robot and were given the chance to scored sacks in the Trough. It all went amazing!
Slideshow with pictures of the event at Plaza Las Américas Mall.
(From left to right): Students Siúl Muñoz, Stephanie Pagán and Edwin Peña with Caguas Mayor Hon. William "Willito" Miranda Torres and Prof. Elvin Rivera.
CIMATEC Robotics Challenge 2012 consisted of a whole day deticated to STEM. Half of the day was spent in the school where they had four stations. In these stations, student's abilities in robotics will be tested. This was used as try-outs to choose possible candidates interested in entering the Robotics Club (2252). The other half of the day was spent in C3TEC (Centro Criollo de Ciencias y Tecnología del Caribe). There students in tenth grade whom had taken the Robotics Class with Professor Elvin Rivera competed against each other using VEX Round Up. Team 2252 volunteered as mentors, referees and coaches for this event. The purpose of this activity was that all of CIMATEC's students had the oportunity of experiencing different aspects of robotics. It was educative and exciting!
Team 2252A (at the time) was invited to present their robot in Nano Days 2012 at Plaza Las Américas Mall in San Juan. This event was opened to the public. The robot was drived around the second floor of the mall and people got curious about it. A lot of people came up and asked about robotics, what we do with the robots, and how the robots are built. They were amazed by how students of only 8th grade and 9th grade designed, built, and programmed a robot by themselves. They were happy about how there's hope for the future with students like us. A lot of kids were interested in driving the robot so they were given the chance to. The event went great!
(From left to right): Students Isabel Rivas, Nycol Cotto, and Alexander Sánchez with Prof. Elvin Rivera and Caguas Mayor Hon. William "Willito" Miranda Torres.
(From left to right): Students Isabel Rivas, Nycol Cotto, and Alexander Sánchez with Prof. Elvin Rivera and Caguas Mayor Hon. William "Willito" Miranda Torres.
Slideshow with some pictures of the event.
(From left to right): Prof. Shirley Martínez, Prof. Elvin Rivera, Osvaldo Rivera, Enid Rodríguez, Nycol Cotto, Frances Ramos from Team 2252A and Ileana Feliciano.
CIMATEC hosted their first Robotics Challenge in May 2011 with the help of PRIOR. In this Challenge, six teams participated compiting against each other with a robot specifically made for VEX Round Up. These teams were composed of new members of the Robotics Club being this their first competition experience with a few past members to help them. Team 2252C (at the time) served as referees, field technicians/score keepers and announcers. There were also a lot of games, challenges, and exibitons about robotics for the rest of the students. This was an amazing event in which students of the school got together to cheer for their favorite team and robot.