After competing in the WKTHS’s Kraken Klash, the GPS Robotics team had a whole week in which they shifted our focus from VEX competitions and working on High Stakes robots, to starting their FRC preparations. Even if this week was a “break” from VEX, it was a busy week for every GPS Robotics team member.
To begin, what did the GPS Robotics team do for our first steps in FRC preparations?
On Monday through Tuesday, each of the team leaders gave all team members tests to determine which “branch” they will be serving under. Students could have been chosen to work under the branches “Mechanical,” “Electrical,” and “Coding.” The final team selections for each branch are as follows:
Mechanical
- Team Lead William Vaughn
- Sevastian Pulido
- Angelina Cabrera
- Micah Escobar
- Devin Lemos
- Jeffery Berman
- Haiden Wilkinson
- Devon Sutherland
- Kat Boeck
Electrical
- Team Lead Rigo Gonzalez
- Adam Minchala
- Bryan H.
- Theo Hansen
- Brittney C.
Coding
- Team Lead Bradley Berman
- Angelina Uy
- Sam Santos
- Micah O
- Savanah Gagen
GPS Robotics at St. Leo
On Tuesday December 10th the GPS robotics team took a trip to Saint Leo University.
This trip took place during the school day so the team members could have a relaxing break from classes to tour around a university with a very interesting robotics program.
The first part of the tour was led by Dr. Monika Kiss, the mathematics department chair at Saint Leo. Dr. Kiss started off by showing the GPS Robotics team Saint Leo’s very own robotics department, in which team members could find extremely valuable and interesting robots of many kinds. For example, a grey robot dog used for rescue jobs and missions was on display for the whole team and everyone who wanted to even got a chance to control it. You could even make it do dances, roll over, and much more! Select students also got a chance to interact with Saint Leo’s most realistic robot/AI when it comes to human interaction. This AI was a robot head with adjustable human features (voice, appearance, etc. ) and a camera that could recognize faces and detect human emotions. This AI is mainly used for therapy, tutoring, and much more. Its almost like talking to a real human.
The second part of the tour, came an actual presentation of the main campus. In the main campus, the GPS Robotics team was shown the cafeteria, the statues of Saint Leo, and even time capsules that aren’t scheduled to be open until the 2060’s! There was still so much more that was and was not on the main campus of Saint Leo that the GPS Robotics team would not be able to see due to time shortage, however that goes to show how considerable the size of Saint Leo is.
Saint Leo was filled with many interesting points and places and it was such an exciting experience for all of the GPS Robotics team!
Fundraising at Kirkland Ranch K-8
On Tuesday, December 10th, a handful of the GPS Robotics members made their way to the Kirkland Ranch K-8 to help fundraise for our upcoming FRC Season by selling 3-D printed articulated sharks, and charging five dollars to drive one of our very own clawbots.
This was an important step to the overall growth of the GPS Robotics club in terms of funding and general growth, expanding our purpose to all of the parents at the K-8. The GPS Robotics club gives massive thanks to the parents that bought a shark, drove a clawbot with they child, donated, or just visited our stand. All support and outreach helps the GPS Robotics team immensely!
Although this week was not a week for vex, it was an immensely busy week for the GPS Robotics team, some of it fun, and some of it hard. Nonetheless, the GPS Robotics team put in all of their effort for everything they did this week!
GPS Robotics 
Leave a comment