Beach Cities Robotics team prepares for FIRST Robotics competition

tumblr_ojxy12AUbT1w3d8bmo6_400 — The Beach Cities Robotics team begins construction of a new robot for this year’s FIRST Robotics competition. Robots were decorated to look like they were in the 1800s.

By Henry Alberts

Staff Writer

The Beach Cities Robotics team began their construction of a new robot for this year’s FIRST Robotics competition.

The game for this year is called “Steamworks” and is centered around a “Steampunk” theme, with robots being decorated like they were produced in the 1800s. Key components of the game include launching balls, climbing rails, and being able to work without a driver.

The Beach Cities Robotics team, known as team 294, has the task of designing, building, and programming a robot over the course of six weeks. After the robot is completed, they will begin participating in competitions and tournaments. The team has won two world championships in years past, and hopes to win another this year, according to team leader Tina Hayati.

Photos: Beach Cities Robotics prepares for FIRST Robotics competition

Consisting of students from both Mira Costa and Redondo Union, the team is doing its best effort to ensure every student has their place in various subteams, such as design and programming.

“We’ve got 42 students, so that includes students from Redondo Union and Mira Costa High Schools, which is great, so we hope to continue growing each year,” Redondo Union teacher and team mentor Meagan Kunert said.

Mentors from various local companies, including Northrop Grumman and Boeing, work with students. The goal of a mentor is to foster safety and learning and to encourage kids to follow their footsteps into STEM fields.

“I would love if the students’ experience on this team gives them appreciation for the variety of engineering and STEM disciplines,” mentor Don Sawdai said. “They can find one area that they like and are interested in going into.”

Mira Costa does have its own Robotics class and programs, however, they use cheaper materials and they are internally based. There are currently no planned efforts to integrate the two groups, bar a few students in that class also participating in the Beach Cities Robotics team.

“As the founder of Mira Costa’s Robotics team and club, absolutely not…I believe if people really want to experience this, they will make the time to come to Redondo and join this team,” Costa student Pavle Medvidovic said when asked if Mira Costa should expand its own efforts.