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Community Corner

Robotics Team Delivers Strong Performance at Competition

The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School robotics team competed in the annual Long Island FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Regional Robotics Competition on April 5-6 at Hofstra University. More than 10,000 spectators cheered on the more than 50 teams competing for a spot in the national championship.

“Our students spent six weeks, working up to six days a week, constructing a 130-pound robot from raw materials, such as aluminum and Plexiglas pieces, combined with digital electronic components, electric motors, cameras, transmissions, wheels and a host of other robotic parts,” said group adviser Brian Chalmers. Students and mentors worked together as they built the robot. “The mentors really enjoyed having the opportunity to share their knowledge with other student team members,” he said.

The four-student robotics drive team worked together to coordinate robot functions. Tasks included shooting a two-foot-wide workout ball into a goal 11 feet in the air while simultaneously avoiding five other robots on the field.

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“Our robot did very well and was a strong performer on all assigned tasks,” said Chalmers. “This year, we had all new robot drivers, so it was a true learning experience for all involved.”

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