Above: Taking a break from fine-tuning their robot, the Cook County Schools Robotics team is (L-R, front) JRon Tamanaha, Lynden Blomberg, John VanderHeiden (front), David Blackburn, Adrian Howard-Larsen. (L-R, middle) Nina Woerheide, Lohnen Vondall, Noah Works, Jaden Aubid, Sarah Carman, Shae Morawitz. (L-R, back) Coach Tom Nelson, Sam Meyer, Andy Kern, Bergen Soland, Joseph James, Connor Franks, Caleb Phillips, Coach Daniel Henry. (Not pictured Isak Terrill, Jack Viren) Left: Bergen Soland, Jack Viren, Andy Kern, JRon Tamanaha and Isak Terrill work on the tracks for the robot.
The new industrial arts area at Cook County High School is a busy place with enthusiastic students enjoying the state-of-the-art space and equipment. The new shop area is the perfect place for the members of the school’s robotics team—Ice Storm—to work on this year’s project.
Excitement is building as the students work to meet the deadline for the competition at the Duluth Entertainment Center on March 3-5, 2016.
Taking a break from assembling nuts and bolts, tracks and wheels, and assorted electronics, team member Kaleb Phillips explained that the three-week period to get the robot assembled was coming to an end soon. Phillips said the goal is to develop a robot that can traverse varied terrain and launch a ball into a goal in an obstacle course dubbed “Stronghold.” Phillips grinned, “Take my word, it’s not as easy as it sounds.”
Isn’t it a matter of following directions, this reporter asked. Team member Anna Carman grinned, “No, the only instructions are for the basic chassis.”
The robotics team receives a box full of parts and has to design and create a robot all on their own. The team can add some of its own parts to the project, but only if they raise the funds to do so—and there is a spending cap of $4,000 for all teams.
Students have been working full speed, not just at assembling the robot. In addition to computer design and turning wrenches, students had to find sponsors, design T-shirts and develop strategy for the competition.
Will they get it done in time? Coaches Daniel Henry and Tom Nelson said they will. “I think it will be the best year the school has ever had,” said Henry. “We have the most motivated kids.”
The coaches and the students all expressed appreciation to the community members and businesses who sponsored this year’s team: Arrowhead Electric, Range Engineering Council, AMFA Educational Trust Board, Backlund Realty, Hughie’s Taco House, North Shore Oil and Propane, Holiday, Medtronic, Beth Swartz, Nesgoda Tree Service, and the Grand Marais Lioness Club.
John VanderHeiden (right) and a visiting friend make precise adjustments to the wheels that spin to provide momentum to toss the ball into the “tower” on the Stronghold obstacle course.
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