Above: The Cook County High School robotics team—“Ice Storm Robotics” traveled to the DECC in Duluth March 10 – 12 for FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) competition. Students put in long hours after school and on weekends to create a robot that earned 10th place overall. Congratulations to (L-R) Casey Deschampe, Max Simonowicz, Kaely Danielson, Alton Danielson, Kirstin Graham, Alec Nielsen, Karl Ingebrigtsen, Alex Ditmanson. (Not pictured – David Hansen, Alex Olfson, and Jana Sanders.)
The Cook County High School robotics team—“Ice Storm Robotics”—traveled to the DECC in Duluth March 10 – 12 for FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) competition. CCHS students, under the direction of Industrial Technology teacher Sam West, put in long hours after school and on weekends to create a robot that earned an impressive 10th place overall out of 42 teams.
The FIRST competition challenges students to develop their technological skills and work cooperatively. The competition starts when the team receives its kit of assorted equipment with which to construct a robot. The team then has six weeks to craft a robot that completes a designated task. Last year, robots played soccer. This year the robot had to build a billboardheight logo, lifting three large inflated tubes and setting them in place to look somewhat like the Olympic rings.
Part of the challenge is working cooperatively with other FIRST teams. Cook County’s Alex Ditmanson explained that alliances must be formed with other teams.
Left: Team members carry the Ice Storm robot onto the field of competition at the DECC.
Ditmanson also said Ice Storm Robotics might have finished higher if not for an “illegal” motor. The FIRST competition kit includes an extensive manual outlining “criteria and constraints” in engineering terms. Participants are allowed to use equipment from previous years—but only if listed as acceptable in the manual.
“We used a motor from three years ago,” said Ditmanson.
It was an error that is not uncommon in the competition. Last year the FIRST team had 12 “violations,” this year, just one. “The guidelines were not explicit—but it was implicit,” said West.
However, that is just part of the challenge. Ice Storm had to regroup, reconfigure, and carry on. “It’s kind of like showing up at a NASCAR race,” said West. “If a part doesn’t work, if you arrive and you find that you don’t meet the weight or height limit, you can change it—on the fly.”
Ice Storm Robotics performed well at the DECC, from practice rounds on Thursday to the finals on Saturday, finishing 10th out of 42 teams.
So, the Ice
Storm Robotics team is ready for NASCAR? West grinned, “Ready for NASA maybe!”
West noted that this is the third year that CCHS has taken part in the FIRST competition and he credits the community for its support. There is a long list of contributors to the program. Arrowhead Electrical Cooperative, Arrowhead Pharmacy, Lori and Terry Backlund, Benny’s Collision Center, Birch Terrace Supper Club, Bluefin Bay Grille, Blue Water Café, Buck’s Radio Shack, Dockside Fish Market, Jeff Igoe, Isak Hansen True Value and Home Builders, Joynes Department and Ben Franklin Store, Lake Superior Trading Post, Medtronic, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, Moondance Coffee House, North Shore Trade and Technical, Sven and Ole’s Pizza, Tire and Auto Lodge, Trail Center Lodge, and Grand Marais Subway.
“Arrowhead Electric presented us with a sizeable grant. That, plus many other key donations from local businesses, made this a real grassroots project,” said West.
In addition to the sponsors, West said Jeff Kern, Bill Simonowicz, Valita Bockovich, and Joe Sanders helped out. “We owe them a debt of gratitude,” he said.
The team is already gearing up for next year. They are losing a few team members to graduation. “So we’re looking for a few brilliant minds,” grinned Ditmanson.
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