Hello, fans, sponsors, and friends! The Wire Clippers are back once again, and this time we’ve managed to get back into the workshop for kickoff. This year, we’re excited to tackle the latest challenge, the transportation-themed “Rapid React,” and although we’ve only just started, we’re already well on our way to a successful season. As many of you know, we spent most of last year preparing for this one; mecanum wheels, standardized code, and increased advertising in search of new members have all begun to pay dividends. This year we’re seeing a marked increase to our members, especially in the freshman and sophomore classes, setting us up for our best season yet.
The challenge itself consists of two parts: transporting balls, called cargo, into a hub; and having the robot climb a set of traversal rungs. The cargo hub presents a fairly standard design challenge for a FIRST competition, but the traversal bars are accompanied by an unusual set of rules; although normal challenges allow a robot to extend appendages well above its initial height, the total height of the robot can only exceed its starting maximum (about 4’4) within the “hangar,” the designated area around the rungs, and only by another 14 inches. This means that, in order to reach the highest rung (standing at fully 7’7), the robot must be able to climb from one bar to the next. Protected launch pads, human players having a chance to aim for the hub, and different colored cargo all help to further intensify the competition, which promises to be one of the most challenging yet (for a more detailed description of the challenge, feel free to visit the official FIRST website here).
As for our response, the build team has spent the day preparing to address the components of the challenge. The proposed designs are still in a tentative phase, so we won’t go into too much detail just yet, but currently, it looks like both challenges are providing interesting design challenges. That said, unlike previous years, we’ve decided to aim for the higher hub in the cargo launch. Although the cargo balls are larger and heavier than any projectile we’ve previously had to work with, we’re working on designs we’re confident will be up to the task. As for the traversal bars, the design challenges inherent to creating a several hundred-pound machine capable of both launching cargo balls into the higher hub and pulling itself to the highest bar are going to make this one of the most challenging designs we’ve ever produced. Whatever we come up with, it’s going to have to be impressive to tackle this one.
While the build team works on the plans, the programming team is looking to start strong, spending today clearing the path for when we know what the robot is going to need. Nearly all of the software has been updated, and as the team with the highest number of new members this year, teaching new members what they need to know coming into the new season is a process we’re wasting no time in starting. This process has been helped along by our previous code, which we’ve been using as an example to demonstrate what we have to work with. Other than that, they’ve been researching new tools, for both software and hardware, to assist in the challenges we’ll be working with this season.
Aside from typing up this blog entry, the business team spent the meeting assessing the task ahead, delegating responsibilities, and laying the groundwork for beginning the STEM outreach days again. Delegation and preparation are key in order to stay current and competitive, and we’re going to need to work around the clock to ensure award submissions, scouting, and team spirit are all in perfect order for competition day. That said, our top priority is the STEM outreach; historically, outreach days have been our most direct and most effective impact on our community, but in the last two years, a mix of Covid and the shutdown of New Heights knocked us out of doing them. This year, we are pleased to announce that we are taking steps to begin this project again, hopefully through a partnership with the elementary and middle schools. Through this, we hope to increase interest in STEM education throughout our district and to rebuild the thriving community we enjoyed so much.
Although getting through last year was tough, we came into this year well-prepared thanks to our efforts then, and we’re more than ready to see some action. As always, if for any reason you’d like to reach out, we’re always available at thewireclippers5902@gmail.com. But until next time, thank you for reading, thank you for your support, and stay tuned!
