From: Picayune Item
Dated May 10, 2010
By Jeremy Pittari, Item Staff Writer The Picayune Item
PICAYUNE — Pearl River County Robotics had a successful year. The team won the Bayou Regional and placed the highest of any Mississippi or Louisiana team in the history of For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology competitions.
After winning the Bayou Regional, held in New Orleans in March, the team went on to the World Championship in Atlanta, Ga., which was held on April 15-17.
A release from the team’s mentor states Team CHAOS competed well at the world championship, but did not place high enough to be guaranteed a spot in the finals. The team placed 11th, but in order to be guaranteed a spot in the finals, a team would have had to place in the top eight. Team CHAOS felt certain the fourth ranked team would select it for a playoff alliance but that team was instead picked by the 3rd ranked team. However luck was on Team CHAOS’ side.
After two matches in the finals, the team that beat out Team CHAOS for the alliance of their choice in the finals encountered technical issues with their robot. That opened up a spot for Team CHAOS in the finals, but by that time the alliance had a 1-1 record and only one match left, the release states. Team CHAOS’ faced a tough challenge. The alliance needed one more win to advance, but another loss would mean the end for the alliance.
In the following match, Team CHAOS’ robot scored five points in its autonomous mode, which is the 15 second period of the match where the robot controls itself, the highest at the competition. That feat combined with the driving skills of team member Matt Lander brought the alliance to the semifinals and consequently on to the finals.
While the alliance did not win the finals, it did place second on one of the event’s four playing fields. The placement earned the alliance the honor of being ranked the sixth alliance in the world for the season, the highest placement of any Mississippi or Louisiana team since FIRST began in 1992, the release states.
Time spent in robotics has provided a few of its senior team members with experiences they say will help them later in life. Lander said his time in robotics has led him to decide to seek a degree in mechanical engineering. He said the hands-on experience with building and operating the robot, along with team members Zac Haller and Drew Williams, has given him experience he will use in life after high school.
Working on a piece of hardware was not the only thing Lander learned while in robotics. He also learned about teamwork. He attributes the team’s success this past season to every team member, not one person.
Team captain Mary Pollitz, who has been involved in Robotics in some way since she was in the fourth grade, said she now has a desire to seek a degree in English to become a teacher. During her time with the team, she volunteered her time to write letters to businesses and companies to seek donations.
Pollitz said she also got the chance to work with mentors — such as Alan Forsman from Pratt Whitney, Scott Olive from NASA, and Branden Wilson from Northrop Grumman — who shared information about their employment. She said those mentors helped her build spread sheets and create flow maps to develop processes for the pneumatic cylinder used in the robot. Those are all experiences Pollitz believe she can include on a resume.
Team member Lane Balch said his experience has led him to decide to seek a degree in mechanical engineering, which he plans to use to design roller coasters. Balch also enjoyed the perks of being a media member of the team, allowing him to go on the floor and take pictures of the competitions.
Public interaction is another thing Pollitz and Balch said they learned. Both said their time in robotics helped them be more outgoing and interact with people they don’t see every day at school.
“It’s a whole lot easier now,” Balch said.
The team members aid they would like to thank all the people who made this year so successful, including the mentors and engineers who volunteered their time, including M.J. Miller.
This year’s sponsors include Picayune public schools, Mississippi School of the Arts, Mississippi Power, NASA, Picayune Eye Center, ERC, Subway of Poplarville, James L. Lambert Dentistry, AGT, Carter Appliances and Flooring Company and family and friends. Mentors include Maureen Pollitz, Michelle Carter, and Amy Yarbrough all from Nicholson Elementary.
Next year the team will be looking for additional sponsors and services. Anyone willing or able to donate machining and fabrication services should contact a team member.