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The Competitions
The Buena High School Robotics Club (Team 1726) is not just an organization which constructs robots and participates actively in community activities. A major portion of our time is spent designing and constructing machines for use in a competion setting. For six weeks out of the year, the team spends up to 8 hours a day after school designing, prototyping, and building a robot for the FIRST Robotics Competition. Students learn to effectively make use of their time, as school work is another priority for this dedicated group of pupils.
Surprisingly, the types of events we participate in are not too different from actual sporting events. Like any sport, the competitors (in our case, the robot) has to meet specific guidelines of weight and size, so it is important to take these factors into consideration when designing the machine.
The events themselves are extremely exciting and involved. Most events take place in large sports arenas (such as football stadiums) which can be filled students, competitors, and spectators. The number of spectators can range in the thousands, and the National Championship for the FIRST Robotics Competition facilitates as many as 20,000 individuals!
Overall, competitions have become an important part of our club. Although it has evolved and expanded its goals (such as seeking to inspire science and technology within the community), the roots of Team 1726 still lie within the drive to compete and succeed in the multitude of competitions it participates in.
