County schools compete in robotics competition
By Bart Moss for the FCT
Dozens of schools from across Northwest Alabama competed in the annual B.E.S.T Robotics competition at Northwest-Shoals Community College in Muscle Shoals Oct. 7. Five schools from Franklin County were a part of the competition that had the feel of a Franklin County basketball tournament, with loud music, screaming students, mascots and running competition that had eyes fixed on the scoreboard.
Belgreen, Phil Campbell, Red Bay, Russellville and Tharptown all had teams in the competition. In all, 26 teams competed for coveted spots in the state competition at Auburn University.
Although no county teams advanced to Auburn, Tharptown High School came away with a first place finish in Teamwork.
“This is a great group of students,” said Marsha Inmon, Tharptown’s robotics teacher. “They work so hard. They spend several hours at the school after school hours, working into the night sometimes.
“I’m glad they got recognized for their hard work.”
Students participate in the competition in the form of a business. Students from each school are given the same parts and expected to build a unique, functioning robot that can navigate a course, picking up as many objects as possible in a specified amount of time. Students also design shirts, create mascots, organize a cheering section, present a manual and create a marketing booth.
The head of each school’s team is given the title CEO.
The competition allows students to get a broad base of experience in STEM but also in business and marketing.
“It is so much more than just building the robot,” said Leah Torisky, Red Bay robotics teacher. “It is such a great competition for the students because it really pushes them and challenges them. They have such a short time to complete everything. They only have six week from the time they get the parts to competing. We have to have different types of people on the team with different skills to complete the tasks, and they are all forced to work together.”
Each year brings a different theme for the robot and the course the teams have to compete on.
“This year our task was to make and market a robot that can go into a burning building and safely remove people,” said Russellville robotics teacher Mark Keeton. “Our team built and programmed the robot by making a video, trade show booth, costume and presentation and exhibiting team spirit and sportsmanship with the other teams.”
Russellville’s team hauled in several awards. The team finished second in Creative Design and CAD Design and third in Most Innovative Design and Best Creative Video.
“In my opinion, this year was by far the best year I have experienced,” said Keeton. “We might have not made it to Auburn for the next level of competition, but our team worked extremely well and created some of the best work I have seen from our organization. The small victories are what make me proud of this team.”
Belgreen’s team finished second in Team Wear for the design of their team shirts.
