WINDBER —
Windber Area High School students are ready to rumble.
They will be putting “Starbot,” a robot they built and designed to the test when they fight it out in the southwestern Pennsylvania BotsIQ preliminary competition today at California University of Pennsylvania.
Working with robotics curriculum based on the National Curriculum Standards and Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s mechanical engineering methodology, students were taught how to construct and battle robots in a gladiator-style competition.
It draws on students’ knowledge of math, science, engineering and public speaking.
The school partnered with BCL Manufacturing Inc. and API Systems Inc., both of Windber, on the project.
“We have four students involved and we have been meeting with the people at BCL and API on a weekly basis coming up with ideas and
testing the robot,” said Tim Saylor, a school adviser to the project.
Teams must follow strict rules in constructing their remote-controlled robot including making sure it weighs
15 pounds or less. The battles also have a set time limit and are held in a sealed ring.
“We looked online and watched videos of past competitions to understand what goes into this a little better and brainstormed ideas,” Saylor said.
“We were behind in getting involved and had to get everything completed in a very short time, but everyone is excited to compete.”
Bill Sipko, president and CEO of BCL Manufacturing Inc., said after being approached to be a part of the project he contacted Windber to see if there was any interest.
“We got together with API and worked on the design with the students,” he said. “Here at BCL we did the metal and manufacturing parts and API did the engineering and electronic side.”
Sipko said the project gave students an opportunity to do a hands-on activity that deals with technology.
“I’m always pro-active when it comes to young people, and this was a chance for them to come here and see what we do,” he said.
Garrett Walerysiak, 15, said the team has met weekly with the businesses making tweaks to ensure the robot will be in perfect fighting condition.
“It’s been hours of work, but I’ve learned a lot about engineering and manufacturing and it’s been a fun experience,” the sophomore said. “We’re ready to go and confident and I hope we do well.”
Students also will be judged on a presentation they give to judges were they’ll have to detail their research and provide drawlings and pictures of prototypes and parts used.
Following the preliminaries, students will move on to the regional competition in April at Westmoreland County Community College.
Saylor added that involvement in BotsIQ is another way for the district to enhance its sciences, technology, engineering and math curriculum.
Local News
Related Photos
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Windber Area High School students pose with their robot at BCL Industries in Paint Township. Shown are (from left) Garrett Walerysiak, Steven Kisiel, Dan Valchine and Anthony Spinos. John Rucosky
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Windber kids design entry for mechanical melee
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