Robotics competition ‘opens the door’ for Hamilton students

The game at the centre of this year’s event was Crescendo, which saw teams attempt to score points by getting their robot to shoot and toss orange rings — representing music notes — into different spots around the arena that acted as speakers and amplifiers.

At the end of the two-minute-and-thirty-second long rounds, the robots would climb the so-called stage and hang from a chain, earning the teams — who compete as trios — even more points.

And much like this year’s theme, the energy of the competition was booming Saturday, which marked the final day of the event.

The gym was packed with students and their supporters, some clad in costumes and others holding signs and flags, as they cheered for their respective teams at near-deafening volumes.

“I couldn’t even hear myself think when they were cheering,” William Neal, competition program manager for FIRST Robotics Canada, said in an interview. “It’s been a really great experience.”

Neal said the district event held at Mac was one of several successive bouts hosted across Ontario ahead of the provincial finals in early April.

Teams need to have competed in at least two district events to attend provincials, which could see them represent Ontario at the FIRST World Championship in Texas next month.

Neal noted that while each event has a winner, the organization instead describes the matches as “coopertitions,” as the teams not only compete but learn from each other along the way.

“This is a community of really supportive teams,” said Neal. “They really rally together … even if they’re about to compete against you.”

OP Robotics of Orchard Park Secondary School in Stoney Creek, MMRambotics of M.M. Robinson High School in Burlington and Brainstorm Robotics of Six Nations Polytechnic’s STEAM Academy took home first place this weekend.

The Stoney Creek team ended the weekend ranked first in Canada and second in the world among their international competitors, according to live rankings released Sunday evening.

But winning isn’t everything for the teens that take part in FIRST Robotics.

The Spectator visited the competition early Saturday afternoon — prior to the finals — to chat with participants about what robotics has given them beyond a taste of science and technology.

‘Feels really empowering’

Ashley Ma, a member of Alectrona, told The Spectator that being on an all-girls community team has been a “really freeing experience,” noting that if she were to be on a mixed team, she likely wouldn’t get to explore a leadership role as “it would be really easy for the guys to take over.”

“It’s very unique,” echoed her teammate Kaitlyn Zhang. “It feels really empowering to have all these girls on the same team and knowing we’re going through the same things.”

And with their pink-coloured robot Onyx, the Aurora-area team is hoping to inspire other girls to pursue their interests in STEM. 

“It symbolizes that we can do what (guys) can do,” added Ma. “We’re really trying to empower the colour pink.”

‘A really tightly-woven community’

Sebastian Mara, a member of Manitoulin Metal Robotics, told The Spectator that one of his favourite parts of the competition is the camaraderie, spanning all the way from the stands to the pits where teams tinker with their droids.

“Everyone here, in some way, is similar,” said Mara, who travelled from Manitoulin Island to take part in the event. “We’re all oriented around STEM and the future … it’s a really tightly-woven community.”

Team mentor Matthew Gray told The Spectator that the competition among the students is incredibly friendly.

“There is no bravado,” said Gray. “Everybody wants to help the next team, like if you need a wrench, they’ll lend it.”

Mara, who has been involved in robotics for more than seven years, hopes to take his experience and eventually work in trades or engineering.

“I really want to help out communities and build on the skills I’ve developed,” added Mara, a student at Manitoulin Secondary School.

‘Robotics really opens the door’

Georgia Watts, a member of OP Robotics, told The Spectator she joined the team this year as her friends seemed to enjoy it. Watts admitted she had “no idea” about anything related to robotics before signing up.

“I’ve already learned so much,” said Watts, pointing to time management as well as working with a team. “It’s been really cool.”

Lucas Joel, who has been on the team for four years, echoed Watts, noting that getting involved with FIRST has presented him with opportunities he otherwise wouldn’t have had.

“It has really given me a lot of connections with not only other students but also mentors as well,” said Joel. “Robotics really opens the door.”