Robotics Team Qualifies for State, Competes in Iowa City with 3D-Printed innovations

The robotics team made significant strides this season, earning a spot at the state competition in Iowa City on February 28. This achievement resulted from months of hard work, problem-solving, and innovative engineering. The newly 3D-printed parts also boosted the team’s chances of making the playoffs.

Reflecting on the season, team member Meav Swank highlighted the challenges and growth they experienced and how the team’s engineering portfolio helped them push through when the robot (bot) encountered difficulties.

“The biggest event was working on the engineering portfolio, because I think that’s what really set us in for success this season. All the things that we did competition-wise were a little tense because we had a lot of fixing we had to do on the string, as well as other things on the bot that were not 100% certain,” said Swank. “The things in the engineering portfolio really carried us through when the bot itself wasn’t doing so well.” 

The team’s experience from the previous year played a crucial role in their improved performance. Previously the team had no experience in competing for state, placing 20th overall out of 36 competing teams. They also didn’t have any coders well-versed in programming the robot required for this year’s challenge. With new sponsors, 3D-printed parts, and the help of our mentors, the team placed 12th and won third place for the Inspire award.

“I think that this state competition went a lot better than last years, just because we had a lot more experience under our belt,” Swank added. 

Their prior knowledge of what to expect at state gave them an advantage, allowing them to refine their approach and execution. A major factor in their success was the use of 3D-printed parts, which allowed for more precise customization and efficiency in their robot design. The ability to model, design, and test new components before competition proved valuable. 

“Problem-solving comes into play when looking at the engineering process,” Swank noted. “So you’re going to have to do a lot of problem-solving when it comes to communicating with other teams, as well as trying to collaborate or just building the bot itself.”

Brent Ewell, the team’s head coach, emphasized the importance of adaptability. Having skills such as communication and collaboration are important while working with a team. Everyone adds essential attributes to a problem, different eyes looking at a challenge from multiple angles can bring new insights to solve the problem.

“Somebody that’s a good problem solver is somebody that can see different solutions in many different ways,” Ewell explained. “People that have a hard time solving problems can only see one solution, but somebody can solve problems easily, can see many solutions and attack it that way.”

While the team performed significantly better than last year, there were still moments of disappointment. For example, out of the six rounds they played to secure spots for the playoffs, there were times Pella’s alliance partner’s robot didn’t perform the best or had compatibility with theirs. This caused the robotics team to lose two of their matches when paired against the higher-ranking team.

“I think in this year’s competition, we performed way better than last year,” said Chetan Vanam. “The one thing that I was mad that we didn’t get was to be able to make the playoffs.”

Despite the competition’s challenges, the team still found joy in the experience. The chance to perform in Iowa City was one to remember. The moments leading up to the competition aren’t something to forget either, being able to engineer while socializing with your peers is the reason many engage with clubs or other sports. 

“I think the best part of robotics is just hanging out with everybody and creating new connections,” Vanam added. 

Although they fell short of making the playoffs, the team’s qualification for state and the advancements they made with 3D-printed components mark a significant step forward. Their experience in Iowa City has set the foundation for an even stronger performance next season.