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THS Robotics

Est. 2008

About

What is FIRST Tech Challenge?

It’s way more than building robots. FIRST Tech Challenge teams (10+ members, grades 7-12) are challenged to design, build, program, and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge in an alliance format. Participants call it “the hardest fun you’ll ever have!” Guided by adult Coaches and Mentors, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles (like keeping an engineering notebook), while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and sharing ideas. The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and can be programmed using a variety of languages, including Java. Teams also must raise funds, design and market their team brand, and do community outreach for which they can win awards. Participants have access to tens of millions of dollars in college scholarships. Each season concludes with Super-Regional Championships and an exciting FIRST Championship.

FIRST Tech Challenge teams get to:

Design, build, and program robots
Apply real-world math and science concepts
Develop problem-solving, collaboration, and team-building skills
Build and become strong leaders
Understand and practice Gracious Professionalism™
Cooperate and compete in alliances at tournaments
Compete for awards on and off the field
Participate in a tiered competition that culminates at the FIRST Championship
Qualify for millions of dollars in college scholarships

Thurston FTC Facts

The Robotics Team started in 2008/2009 as an after school program. It was all boys.
In 2009/2010, a girls’ team was started and the boys’ team was continued.
Robotics became a class in 2010/2011 and the teams still spend time after school and on Saturdays working on their robots in order to be ready for competition.
In 2012/2013 a third team was added. In 2015/2016 a fourth team was added, and a fifth team was added in 2017/2018.
Each year the FIRST Tech Challenge is different, requiring a different field and a different robot design. Details of the challenge are released in early September each year.
The Challenge is a game played by robots and requires offensive and defensive strategies. It is not robots fighting each other.
FIRST Tech Challenge robots are built using a Gobilda Robotics kit which is similar to an Erector Set. Additional parts as specified in the game manual can be used or fabricated. In their starting position, robots must fit into an 18” cube. The robot can expand to any size after the game starts. Robots are controlled remotely using one or two game controllers and two android devices. One phone on the robot and the other phone is connected to the controller(s).
Programming is done in JAVA or Block Programming through FIRST.
The team members design, build, program, and operate their robots.
The teams build a practice field each year based on the current challenge.
Team members at Thurston also learn to perform outreach, public relations and marketing tasks for the team. Prepare meeting agendas and facilitate “Progress Meetings”, and speak before teams of judges during competitions and speak before the public.
It takes about $2,500 per year to support one team. Costs for a team include registration costs ($275), Robotics parts and supplies which varies year to year, some travel expenses which also varies year to year, tournament costs ($225 per team), and miscellaneous team supplies for presentations, etc.
The Thurston Robotics program is funded through sponsors, fundraisers, and a $20 shop fee per student. The program expenses are not paid for by the district.
We added a fifth team in 2017, they did great for it being their first year.