The robotics team of Weston Corbet, Keiden Johnson, Nolan Twining, David Haney, Isaiah Retting and Brody Wright designed a robotic drink dispenser.
Dean Brown | The Lima News
HARROD — Five teams comprising the Allen East Robotics team have been working on Mondays and Wednesdays since November 7 to design, construct, and program automated work cell projects that will compete in the National Robotics Challenge Competition and the Ohio Technology and Engineering Educators Association Competition on April 14 in Marion, Ohio.
Second-year robotics coach Ryan Johnson said, “Robotics gives students the opportunity to learn skills that can be applied to a potential career. Teamwork, persistence, and problem-solving are all facets needed to complete these projects. Students have also gained tremendous knowledge in programming and coding.”
Izzy Webb and Hailey Lawrence have programmed a heat press designed to put artwork on folders. When the folder is placed in the machine the heat press puts the design on the folder. Another group had a model car on a turntable. The engine would be picked up and placed in the car. Then the car was placed on a conveyor belt.
Ethan Rutherford, Landon Twining and Alex Viola programmed a box to move down a conveyor belt where a Dobot — a brand of robotic arm — picks it up. The Dobot then picks up a barrel and places it in the box, finally placing the box off the conveyor belt. Weston Corbet, Keiden Johnson, Nolan Twining, David Haney, Isaiah Retting, and Brody Wright designed a robot that will dispense a beverage.
The Allen East Robotics team is in its second year. There are four middle school teams and one high school team readying for competition this year. Last year there were five students making only two teams. The program is growing each year. Sponsors make the club and events happen. Team members include students from grades five to nine.
Reach Dean Brown at 567-242-0409
