The first huge scrimmage we had been preparing for, Robot In Six Weeks, was taking place at Cardinal Gibbons. The team had one brief meetup at school before we left, to just make sure that everything was secure and working. Then, we boarded the bus and started our journey to Cardinal Gibbons.
Upon arrival, the team’s excitement just couldn’t be contained. As we entered the building, we set our stuff in our room and immediately started getting to work. The robot was surrounded by a furious frenzy of workers operating on pure passion. In the meantime, our software members got out their computers and began finalizing our auto, which was capable of scoring points through parking. Our other members who couldn’t necessarily work on the robot were mainly getting to know the other teams, and checking out some of the other robots.
The scrimmage matches that occurred were truly a spectacle for the team. Our new drivers were jumping for joy, with the anticipation of actually getting to test their driving skills in a competitive environment. The matches were packed with energy, as swarms of spectators would surround the field. The first few matches served as a rough lesson for our drivers. The excitement began to wane a little, as they were starting to feel a bit disheartened after their struggles. However, after a deep discussion with other members, with encouragements and support, our drivers recovered their jubilation and began to score points left and right!
At the end of the scrimmage, we placed ninth out of the thirteen teams that participated. The experience served as a great learning opportunity for our newer drivers, and really helped bring the team closer together in the stressful environment. After all, it takes a bit of heat in order to mold iron into a blade. The bus ride back was filled with a new found sense of life, and a joyful round of bus karaoke. However, this event only served as a step four our longer journey. No brakes on innovation, Till The Wheels Fall Off!
