The students of the Missoula Robotics Team come from all of our school district's high schools as well as home-schooled students from the surrounding area. They compete in the premier level of FIRST robotics, the FIRST Robotics Championship (FRC). FRC "combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology." This program provides an amazing opportunity for students to learn about engineering, computer science, business, and numerous other subjects. In addition, they are given the opportunity to learn many lessons that are not always taught in the classroom including problem solving, grit, determination, success, and failure.
Our team members and mentors are passionate about robotics and the many skills that can be learned through their design, construction, and application.
As a teacher and robotics coach, I want to share a wide variety of content with my students. I want them to be able to succeed in their lives after high school, no matter what path they choose. I want to expose them to ways to combine creativity with practical, real-world solutions. Our team gives them all these opportunities and more.
My Project
Our team just finished up their season at the Canadian Rockies Regional. We had a successful competition, making the playoffs and being selected for the Excellence in Engineering Award. We are very proud of what we have accomplished and are motivated to move forward and start getting ready for next year. We are seeking ways to perform at an even higher level and extend our learning into new areas.
As a smaller team, sometimes the newest, cutting-edge equipment is slightly out of reach for us.
Many teams have begun to move to brushless motors powering their drivetrains. This gives them an advantage in speed and power over the teams using traditional brushed motors. We considered the switch for this season, but were unable to fit them into our budget. Being able to purchase the motors and speed controllers necessary to power them will help us greatly as we prepare our plans for next season knowing that this competitive advantage will be available to us. Obtaining this equipment now will help us to be ready for whatever challenge FIRST has for us for 2020.
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