When most people hear the word “robot”, they immediately think of human-like machines that star in their favorite sci-fi movies. However, members of RaileRobotics have a completely different perspective on the subject. To them, robotics is all about hands-on learning and the application of STEM skills in competitive events.
The NHS robotics team, or Team 935, was established in 2001 when the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Program was introduced to the district. According to FIRST, the FIRST Robotics Competition is an international program that aims to inspire future innovators and technology leaders by creating hands-on competitions in over 110 countries. RaileRobotics is open to anyone who has the passion to join, but certain academic requirements are enforced.
“Anyone can join the team,” junior Erik Kaufman said. “We do keep expectations about maintaining grades, but there is no class or skill requirement because we can teach you everything you will need to know.”
Build season, the main portion of robotics season, officially starts with a kickoff event on the first Saturday of January. This enables teams across the country to start holding meetings specifically dedicated to the year’s field game. At NHS, team practices revolve around brainstorming and working together to solve problems.
“A typical practice starts with an opening meeting where we discuss as a team what needs to get done,” junior Sarah Koehn said. “Then we break up into smaller groups and work on the different things that we need to work on.”
The robotics season typically spans from the kickoff event to the end of Spring Break or to the first week of April. This year, RaileRobotics plans on attending two regionals; the Heartland Regional in Olathe from March 15‐18 and the Green Country Regional in Tulsa, Okla. from April 5‐8. Many members said that the highlight of the season is, without a doubt, participating in live competitions.
“Competition is like a dream,” senior Sarah Musser said. “You meet people from all across the world through FIRST.”
Koehn said competitions rely on teamwork. Each round of competition groups three competing teams into an alliance, which then enables two alliances to compete against each other per round. The team that most successfully completes the designated field game wins. She said that while alliances are grouped randomly in the qualifying rounds, that is not the case from the quarter-finals and on. At that point, the top eight seeds get to choose which teams are in their alliance and whom they wish to compete against. Nonetheless, Koehn highlights that there is nothing more gratifying than seeing Team 935’s robot in action.
“[Competitions] are the most rewarding part because you have been working so hard for two and a half months to create a robot,” Koehn said. “They make it worth it and it is the part that we look forward to.”
Additionally, an unconventional, but exciting change happened to the RaileRobotics team in the 2022 season. Junior Zoe Graber from Wichita Northeast Magnet High School became a member of Team 935. She said that, over the summer of 2021, she learned she could join the team even though she does not attend NHS, thanks to Kaufman. She was then able to help code and wire the 2022 robot. She said she strengthened her problem-solving and teamwork skills after joining the team, but that there were occasional feelings of loneliness, as she was not a part of the same high school community that the rest of her team members are in.
“It is definitely an experience that I loved having,” Graber said. “[However,] there are definitely social and scheduling challenges and that cost-benefit analysis will be different for every person depending on their situation.”
Overall, RaileRobotics is an activity open to everyone that teaches important life skills, as well as a fundamental STEM education. Members have the opportunity to work on hands-on projects and work alongside teams from across the country. Fortunately, Team 935 is always open to new aspiring members.
“Even though I have taken engineering classes, the application experience given in robotics is extremely useful,” Kaufman said. “Aside from being a part of a fun community and project, FIRST also provides lots of resources and scholarships for STEM education after high school.”