Added on September 9, 2024 Sara Swanson

Robotics finds continued success during summer months

Decrease Font Size Increase Font Size Text Size Print This Page Send by Email

The female members of Digital Dislocators led the way at Goonettes Invitational held at Woodhaven High School this past weekend. Photo courtesy of Digital Dislocators.

submitted by Andy Galicki, Manchester Digital Dislocators

After having the most successful season in program history and not wanting to let it end there, the high school robotics team entered the off-season hoping to continue that trend throughout the summer months.

There are many unofficial off-season competitions that are available for teams to attend during the summer, and they provide great opportunities for students to continue to gain hands-on STEAM experience outside of the regular season. Over the last few years, we have found that competing in these events allows our students to explore other team roles and hone the skills that they learn during the year in a fun way.

The first event of the summer was a competition called Big Bang! in Taylor, where we finished ranked 5th overall and led our alliance to finals, unfortunately falling just short of the win.

In July, we were once again invited to compete at the Indiana Robotics Invitational, which is one of the most prestigious events of the summer. We played with and against some of the best teams on the planet, and led our alliance to a respectable 4th-place finish.

As the summer began to wind down, we traveled to Dundee to compete in the Michigan Advanced Robotics Competition. There, many of our newer students were able to spend time behind the controls and adapt to new roles as our seniors moved on to college. As the 2nd-ranked team overall, we swept the playoffs with our alliance partners and earned our first win of the summer!

This past weekend, the team competed at the Goonettes Invitational held at Woodhaven High School. This is an event where women take the lead to promote diversity and equality within the robotics community. With our ladies at the helm, the team finished qualifications as the 6th-ranked team. As the captains of our alliance, we fought our way through an incredibly tough elimination bracket and after forcing a tiebreaker in the finals, emerged victorious for a second time this off-season.

Robotics is about more than just competition, though, so we also spent time working on fundraising efforts, which are a crucial aspect of our team sustainability. We hosted our second annual summer bottle drive, raising nearly $1,100, and once again sold gelato at the Chicken Broil. We also partnered with Chipotle and Panda Express for additional fundraising events.

As we move into the new school year, and into our 10th season, we look toward the upcoming months with excitement as we recruit new students and continue to provide STEAM opportunities to those in our local community and beyond.

Finally, we want to thank our community as a whole. The support that you have given us, no matter how big or small, makes it possible for us to do what we do. We literally wouldn’t be where we are today without each and every one of you. Thank you!