Robotics Contest

Once again the screams of the crowd bounced off the walls of the old Marianna High School gym April 8 as students cheered on their teams towards victory; however, this time the contest involved robots and innovation instead of basketballs or volleyballs.

Students from 23 different teams designed and built robots to compete in the 2010 Chipola Regional Workforce Board Robotics Contest. Teams were challenged to build a robot that could pick up tennis balls and pipe as well as cross a barrier that divided the contest arena. Teams also competed in a log book contest that required them to document their entire design and build effort. The top long book teams then had to face a panel of judges to answer questions about their efforts.

In the contest arena teams were challenged to place tennis balls into tubes as well as place various sizes of pipe onto pegs. The teams also had to build a robot that could cross a barrier in order to maximize their score. All teams competed in a round robin contest with the top twelve teams advancing to a single elimination tournament.

In the end second seed Gizmo from Bethlehem High School outscored top seed Liberty 1 from Liberty County High School to take first place. Altha’s Johnny Boy robot defeated Chargers from Chipley High School to take third place.

In the Log Book contest Altha’s Johnny Boy team used a strong interview to take first place. Altha’s FFA team took third with Bethlehem’s Skill Master and Gizmo and taking second and fourth respectively.

Vernon 1 had the highest score in any single match and Cottondale High School was awarded the Sportsmanship award.

Richard Williams, Executive Director of the workforce board, complimented both the students and the teachers involved in the event.

“When you look at the robot designs, the work the teams are doing in the pit area to make repairs and improvements you realize the students are really learning a lot without even realizing it at the time,” Williams said. “It is also fun to watch the students and teachers really getting into the competition and realizing that sometimes the students are just having fun learning and the teachers are the ones that are really nervous.”

The contest was sponsored by PBS&J, David H. Melvin Consulting Engineers and Opportunity Florida.

The Chipola Regional Workforce Development Board is a non-profit corporation providing job skill training and employment services in Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty and Washington Counties.