Edina Robotics FIRST Team 1816 – “The Green Machine,” traveled to Duluth in late July and, unlike many other Minnesotans, it wasn’t to spend time on Lake Superior.
Edina High School’s competitive robotics team went up north to participate in the third annual Gitchi Gummi Get Together, a post-season robotics event held this year at Lincoln Park Middle School in Duluth. But Gitchi Gummi isn’t your ordinary robotics tournament. Check out our short video for a glimpse!
In normal competitions, there is a single “drive team” made up of four people who operate the robot as it competes in matches. But in this tournament, every team member can try their hand at robot operation.
Throughout the two-day competition, members of The Green Machine experienced the pressure and payoff of driving and operating their robot, Zenith, in matches only a few minutes long.
“I loved being able to try something so different from what I usually do with the team,” commented Will J., a member of The Green Machine’s programming subteam.
Though there were a few mishaps, such as when part of the robot’s shooting mechanism broke off, members of The Green Machine are used to dealing with such setbacks quickly. In between matches, Zenith took trips to the pits and the practice field as builders and programmers repaired any damage sustained as well as continued to fine tune its capabilities. At this event, Zenith was consistently able to breach the mid-field defense elements and score points by rolling and placing boulders into the low goal.
The Green Machine, along with alliance partners Nevis High School Team 3102-Tech-No-Tigers and Denfeld (Duluth) High School Team 8009-DNA Too (Denfeld’s practice robot), went on to win the event! Scores in the two finals matches were 124-90 and 137-to-64.
Team 1816 has been semifinalists and quarterfinalists at many FRC competitions since its rookie year in 2005-06. The team has won the top award, the FIRST regional Chairman’s Award, in 2015, 2014, 2012, and 2008. Other notable FIRST awards include the Engineering Inspiration Award (2015, 2013, and 2012) and Entrepreneurship Award (2016, 2015, 2013, 2012, and 2011). Membership on our Team is now open for students entering Grades 10 and 11 at Edina High School.