It’s all about the planning for Team 302 right now, as the Lake Orion High School Robotics Team is deep into their preseason with preparations for another successful year.
According to Advisor Nathan Cobb, who is also a drafting and design teacher at the high school, the team is currently taking care of some odds and ends, seeking sponsorships and gearing up for the season kickoff, which takes place the first week in January. At that point, the team will find out what specific task their robot needs to do (referred to as the ‘game?) and start planning its development.
The team is open to any high school student that is interested and is recommended for anyone with creativity, who likes working with their hands, has good math skills and the drive to succeed.
‘Even if you aren’t sure about engineering, you should think about it,? senior Heather Wilsher, a four-year team member, said, noting that there is also a business aspect to things, and the team has had former members go on in life to study things in the medical field and journalism, as well as engineering.
For a person like Wilsher, who was a self-proclaimed shy person, the robotics team has helped her with her public speaking abilities, as well as helping to bring her out of her shell.
‘I’m more outgoing,? she said. ‘Plus, it’s helped with work place skills and life skills and helped me decide to go into engineering.?
‘Its real world but on a smaller scale,? Wilsher added. ‘It let’s you adjust slowly.?
For senior Matt McCormick, he has found that his involvement helped him not only on his college applications, but also helped him get an internship at a software development company.
Currently the team meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-8 p.m., and once the season starts, they will also meet on Saturdays to help prepare them for competition. They will take part in two regional competitions, as well as a national competition in Atlanta.
‘These are high school students producing very, very sophisticated robots and software,? Cobb said. ‘It’s quite impressive. 100-percent student designed and manufactured.?
According to Cobb, the students have mentors that guide them, but the work is completely student produced.
Before design and production may begin, though, the team is using this preseason time to look for funding and sponsorships. According to Wilsher, they must raise a minimum of $30,000 this year to able to attend the national competition in Atlanta.
‘We are looking for community support,? she said. ‘If we do not attain this money, it will be the first year since 2001 that we could not attend the championship.?
So far, the team has started collecting sponsorships, such as a new partnership they have formed with Premiere Self Storage of Lake Orion, and they are looking for even more help.
For information on how to help the team or if you are a high school student interested in applying for Team 302, information can be found on their website, www.team302.com. For community supporters, the team will continue to update their progress through the preseason, as well as once competitions start, on their website.