Life’s Flavors ~ SSISD Robotics Program: Going to State UIL & VEX V5 State Competitions
Robotics season is in full swing and the teams with the Sulphur Springs ISD program are proving to be competition at the tournaments they attend. Both the High School and Middle School have teams participated in the same event, and sometimes find themselves allied together during matches. This year’s VEX V5 game is a fun one that continues to teach the students to code, design, build and interview at each competition. This year’s VEX V5 game Push back, is played with four robots on the field with two pairs of alliances.
The goal is to score the most points. Points are scored in a variety of ways. The first part of the competition is considered autonomous, 15 second run, this is not driver controlled. The students have to code their robot before placing it on the field to complete this portion of the game. Points are awarded and a bonus can be achieved, so long as each robot and blocks stay on their side of the field.
From that point on, after points are awarded, the driver controlled portion begins. The driver portion of the competition is 1 minute and 45 seconds, to score the most points. Points are awarded by placing blocks in the long goals at the side and the center goal in the middle. The alliance with the most blocks in the center of the long goal will win a control 10-point bonus, plus 3 points for each block in the goal.
The center goal has an upper and lower portion, and each one has different point amounts that alliances can earn based on the number of blocks in the goal. The upper section has an 8-point bonus and the lower section has a 6-point bonus, in addition to the 3 points per block.
The last portion of the game, is where alliances can earn points by parking the robot in their parking zone. One robot that is parked can earn 8 points, but if both robots can be parked, it will allocate 30 points to the alliance. “These matches are usually very fast and intense,” High School robotics instructor Bryan Cole said. “Requiring high levels of driving, problem-solving and collaboration between alliance partners.”
Currently, SSMS Robotics has team 23835B and SSHS Robotics has team 1585B, 1585Z and 1585X, qualify and advance to VEX V5 Region 2 State Championships. Also, VEX V5 at the High School level is a UIL approved event, and both teams 1585B and 1585Z will be representing SSHS at the UIL State Championships in Houston. These students have worked hard since the summer to put together robots and code that are competitive and functional.
In conjunction the Middle School also has another group of students competing in VEX IQ. The IQ game is called Mix & Match, student teams work together with an alliance partner to design and drive a robot that can stack multicolored pins in pre-set goals. These stacks score points that get counted in each match throughout the day to set rankings. These rankings then determine the final alliances, and each alliance attempts to put up the highest score, which wins the overall tournament. In the VEX IQ teams, students are also learning more advanced techniques and teamwork to develop strategies for this year’s game.
Two years ago the Robotics teams determined the need for a booster club, to help further support the students directly for robotics competitions. The booster club is continually looking for additional support, financial and time, to lend these students are they progress in their competitions. The ultimate goal for our teams is to advance to VEX Worlds. Which will be located in Saint Louis this year and the department hopes to send multiple teams to compete again. The students first have to qualify for Worlds, just like they have qualified for State.
The experience the students gain from seeing teams from all over the world is a cultural and illuminating experience. The students learn to deal with high pressure situations, and build alliances with teams from other countries. There are teams from all age levels in attendance, from elementary to collegiate, competing at Worlds and teams who have traveled around the world to demonstrate their skill and understanding of the game. The students of SSISD have been granted a wonderful opportunity to participate in VEX and are fortunate for the teachers and volunteers that pour hours of time and energy into making their dreams a reality.
The opportunities outside of robotics from competing at Worlds extends beyond the classroom. There are potential scholarships, job opportunities, and even internships the students can earn just by the exposure to Worlds, as well as, the immense accomplishment that they made it to the most elite competition for robotics. If you would like more information on how to support the robotics program for SSISD please reach out to Bryan Cole at bcole@ssisd.net.
By Allison Libby-Thesing
