Cybergnomes clean up at regionals
The Cybergnomes have returned from Calgary with a second place finish at the Western Canada FIRST Robotics Canada Regional meet.
Clearview Township’s competitive robotics team collected enough points to solidify a spot among the best teams in the region April 2-4.
During the 2015 season, robotics teams from all over the world have been testing their skills in a trash-themed challenge dubbed Recycle Rush.
Participating teams are provided kits at the beginning of the season with which to build their robots. This year’s robots are designed to stack containers and put pool noodles, representing trash, into recycling containers, all with the goal of accumulating points.
Points can also be gained when human players throw the pool noodles into the opposing team’s side of the arena.
The Cybergnomes’ Jordan Brundrette has the best arm in the world when it comes to throwing pool noodles, earning him the highest human player score in the competition.
In Calgary, The Cybergnomes made it to the finals and the team was working on executing a winning strategy to remove the opposing team’s recycling bins, giving them more chances to stack and leaving their opponent with fewer chances to score.
Lead mentor Gary Page said that’s when a chain broke and the robot fell over.
“It was okay,” said Page. “It actually added some excitement.”
The signature move that allows The Cybergnomes to steal the bins is what caught the eye of the winning team late last month during another regional competition in North Bay.
At the end of the qualifiers, The Cybergnomes were ranked 21st but when it came time for alliances to be formed heading into the finals, they were chosen to join forces with the top two teams.
Their team won first place, meaning they will advance to the world championships later this month.
In North Bay, Taylor Jacksch was given the Dean’s List Award by FIRST Robotics after being nominated by his teammates for his dedication, commitment and his personification of FIRST’s (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) ideals through education initiatives.
Having advanced to the worlds, the team continues its fundraising efforts. Individuals and businesses willing to help the team through donations and partnerships are asked to contact Gary Page at 705-888-0731 or page.graphics@sympatico.ca.
Visit www.cybergnomes.ca.
