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Wetumpka robotics tops in Alabama
By Peggy Blackburn
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For the third consecutive year, Wetumpka High School’s robotics team won first place in the state. The group topped 21 other school groups at the Alabama BEST (Boosting Engineering Science and Technology) competition held Sat-urday at the Auburn University Student Activities Center.
The objective of this year’s exercise, entitled “Just Plane Crazy,” was to construct a robot capable of assembling aircraft in a simulated manufacturing plant using “lean manufacturing” and “just in time inventory” strategies.
Six weeks ago, each team received a kit of standardized parts and the details of this year's challenge.
And, while the performance of the robots was the key element, the competition didn’t end there. Teams also had to complete a project summary notebook, give an oral presentation, set up a table display, maintain a Web site and demonstrate spirit and sportsmanship.
In addition to finishing first overall, the WHS group captured a variety of other awards, including: first in robotics performance; first for most robust robot (required fewest repairs), tied for first for highest score in any round of robot performance competition, first in oral presentation, first for project engineering notebook, first fin spirit and sportsmanship, first for Web page, best pep band, best mascot, second in most creative design, third for table display and interview, third in T-shirt design, third for most photogenic robot and third for most elegant robot.
The com-bined scores gave We-tumpka the overall BEST lead.
Virginia Vilardi, a WHS science teacher, is the robotics team sponsor. She gives her students credit for the robot’s success.
“It took all of the scores and rankings in the different categories to win first place BEST,” said Vilardi.
“BEST is the coolest activity I’ve ever been involved in,” said Parker Caviness, a Wetumpka sophomore who plans to be an industrial engineer. “I’ve learned a lot about robots, moving a project forward and about working with others.”
“In addition to having a whole lot of fun, BEST has made me a well-rounded person.,” said junior Katie McLaughlin. “I’ve served on a different part of the team each year. I didn’t know a thing about robots, design, project management, manufacturing or business when I started. Now I see how it all fits together.”
The win qualified the team to participate in the South’s BEST regional competition, set for Dec. 12-13 at Auburn University’s Beard-Eaves Coliseum. They will compete against more than 50 winning teams from 11 other competition hubs in eight states.
And the Wetumpka team won’t be the only one representing Elmore County. Stanhope Elmore reaped its share of awards also, winning the second place BEST award as well as second in robotics, second for most photogenic, second in table display and interview, Third for best project engineering notebook, third for oral presentation and third in creative design.
Jennifer Cox, the faculty advisor for the Stanhope robotics group, received recognition as well. Cox was named as winner of the annual Teacher Leadership Award.
Southside Middle School from Tallassee will also make the trip to the regional competition. In last weekend’s contest, Southside won first in creative design, was chosen second most elegant design and and received the Top Gun award for the most points scored in a single round.
Millbrook Middle Junior High also brought home honors, winning first in the most photogenic category and second for T-shirt design.
Over the next few weeks, members of the three local teams will make necessary repairs and adjustments to their robots to ensure that they are in top condition for the coming competition.
Every robotics team that participated began the process with an identical box of parts and the same mission.
