The Washington Times
  • Subscribe
  • Times News Services
  • RSS
  • Mobile Headlines
  • e-edition
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • REGISTER
  • LOG IN
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • WELCOME
  • Your Profile
  • Log Out
  • Front Page Image
  • Classifieds
  • Autos
  • Real Estate
  • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Customer Service
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • NFL
    • NBA/WNBA
    • MLB
    • NHL
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsports
    • Soccer
    • NCAA
    • Olympics
    • Outdoors
    • Other
  • Culture
    • Home & Living
    • Family & Kids
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Washington Visitors
    • Books
    • Military History
    • Life
    • Auto
    • TV Listings
    • Movie Listings
    • Death Notices
    • Entertainment
  • Themes
  • Communities
  • Shopping
    • Stores
    • Coupons
    • Daily Double
    • Promotion
    • How It Works
  • Videos
    • Two Guys
    • Birnbaum on Washington
    • Liz Glover
    • Amanda Carpenter
    • Morning Briefing
    • Documentaries
    • Joe Giganti
    • Video Game Minute
  • Podcasts
    • About Headlines
    • Audio and Radio
    • America's Morning News
  • Politics

    Massive bill steals show in health care debate

  • Commentary

    Al Qaeda's prospects

  • Sports

    Slow start dooms Capitals

  • National

    Winfrey: Prayer influenced 2011 exit

  • Politics

    Report: ACORN mismanaged grant money

  • Politics

    Obama's approval rating falls below 50%

  • Local

    Report: D.C. schools chief Rhee mishandled sexual misconduct scandal

Sunday, March 18, 2007

ROBOTS

Rate this story

Average 0.00
after 0 votes
Login or register to rate this story

  • Font Size -+
  • Print
  • Email
  • Comment
  • Tweet this!
  • Share
  • Article
  • Comments ()
  • Click-2-Listen
  • Videos

More Stories

  • Iran: Missiles ready for Israel, U.S. bases if attacked
  • Massive bill steals show in health care debate
  • Coal mine blast kills 42 in China; 66 trapped
  • Obama: Asia trip a boost to U.S. economy

By

Members of the Robotics Club at Rockville's Col. Zadok Magruder High School never met a robot they didn't like.

Of course, most of them had only met two -- the ones they built last year and this year for the Chesapeake FIRST Regional robotics competition. It doesn't take into account the robots that ultimately defeated theirs.

The robotic devices they built themselves are tested in the contest to see how quickly they can lift large plastic rings and place them onto horizontal metal poles. At least that's part of it. As complicated as robots may be, the rules for competition are even more daunting.

The unusual challenge is part of a robotics competition sponsored for the past 16 years by FIRST, a not-for-profit organization headquartered in New Hampshire. The Magruder club's 25 members were among an estimated 32,000 young people in the United States and abroad participating in a staggered series of regional events leading to the national robotics playoffs in Atlanta in April.

The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) competition is unusual because points that lead to prize money are given for team spirit and cooperation as well as for the robot's performance. The idea behind the contest, founded by inventor Dean Kamen, is to generate appreciation of and interest in science and technology by building on the same excitement generated in sport.

Magruder High School was involved this year for only the second time, fielding one of 58 teams at the Chesapeake FIRST Regional contest -- titled "Rack 'n' Roll" -- which concluded Saturday at the U.S. Naval Academy's field house in Annapolis. The two-day event resembled a series of high-tension basketball games operated by remote control: March madness of an entirely different kind.

The event required the Magruder team to design and build a robot within six weeks, using whatever tools the team members could devise and working with only a basic kit of parts that are the same for every entry. Team members learn to work together by understanding how each can contribute to better all their chances.

Rules for the regional meet require that teams be randomly grouped to earn points with other teams as well, but the groupings aren't revealed until the last minute. (The better-known Intel Science Talent Search, by contrast, encourages individual initiative and the development of cutting-edge research.)

The FIRST challenge is a costly enterprise, both in terms of time and money, and requires the help of many adult volunteers and the support of underwriters from the private and public sector. Fortunately for Magruder, the U.S. Department of Commerce this year gave a $10,000 grant to its project, with the remainder of the money -- $6,000 is required just to enter -- coming from local corporations.

When a notice went up asking for volunteers at the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology to advise the team, Magruder got lucky a second time with the response from engineer Kevin Lyons. An engineering specialist in the fields of nanometrology and nanomanufacturing whose four children had graduated from the school, he became the lead adviser among four institute employees involved. Mentoring is a large part of the program.

12Next »

Post a comment

There are comments on this article, submit your opinion!

Commenting is disabled for this entry.
If you feel there is still something worth mentioning about this entry please contact the author or the site admin.

Ask a Question

You Report

Do you have another point of view, photos, audio, video or more information about a story?

Top Stories

Most Read

  1. Health bill could get 34-hour reading in Senate
  2. Work site arrests of illegals fall dramatically
  3. Senate health care bill creates new marriage penalty
  4. Massive bill steals show in health care debate
  5. KELLNER: New Apple mouse really is 'Magic'
More Top Stories »
  1. 19 gang members face racketeering charges
  2. Report: D.C. schools chief Rhee mishandled sexual misconduct scandal
  3. EXCLUSIVE: Taliban chief hides in Pakistan
  4. EXCLUSIVE: Hoffman considering recount claim
  5. PRUDEN: Obama bows, the nation cringes

Most Shared

  1. Religious leaders vow civil disobedience on anti-life issues
  2. Report: D.C. schools chief Rhee mishandled sexual misconduct scandal
  3. PRUDEN: Obama bows, the nation cringes
  4. Faint Shroud of Turin text proves artifact real, book says
  5. Senate health care bill creates new marriage penalty
More Top Stories »
  1. EDITORIAL: Chicago, Afghan-style
  2. Massive bill steals show in health care debate
  3. Socialist or vast expansion?
  4. BOOKS: 'The Secret Wife of Louis XIV'
  5. PRUDEN: The Third World and Obama

Most Commented

  1. PRUDEN: The Third World and Obama
  2. Religious leaders vow civil disobedience on anti-life issues
  3. Army lacks guidelines to deal with jihadists in ranks
  4. Senate health care bill creates new marriage penalty
  5. EDITORIAL: Get ready to bomb Iran
More Top Stories »
  1. Dems up pressure on health bill's holdouts
  2. EXCLUSIVE: Taliban chief hides in Pakistan
  3. Obama's approval rating falls below 50%
  4. Unforeseen climate 'crisis'
  5. Work site arrests of illegals fall dramatically

Listen to Washington Times Radio

  • America's Morning News

    with John McCaslin and Melanie Morgan

Blogs & Columns

  • Hot Button Blog

    RNC: Breast cancer recommendations may lead to 'rationing'

  • Belief Blog

    Evangelicals OK civil disobedience

  • Out of Context

    Foods that might kill libido

  • On the Fly

    United lifts some 'award' blocking

  • Technology

    Facebook wins round against phishing spammer

  • Redskins 360

    Rookie Williams hurts ankle

  • SNOBlog

    Beyond 'Woody'

Videos

Advertising Links
TWT Store
  • e-edition
  • Print Edition
  • Weekly Washington Times
TWT Affiliates
  • Middle East Times
  • Golf
  • UPI
  • Arbor Ballroom
  • Washington Times Global
  • About TWT
  • Press Room
  • F.A.Q.
  • Work for TWT
  • Advertise
  • Sponsors
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

All site contents © Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC.