Los Al High School Robotics Team (the Meme Team) hosted District School Board members Diana Hill and Marlys Davidson, ASB President Blake Ravelo, and realtor Randy Hill. The robotics open house began at Build It Workspace with team captain and senior student Ashley Kim’s overview of FIRST Robotics Competition and the Meme Team’s involvement in it.
The Meme Team—Team 6220—is a group of Los Alamitos High School students who aspire to work in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields. They pursue their passion by participating in an annual competition held by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a nonprofit public charity founded in 1989 which motivates students to pursue STEM education and careers. During the competition season, teams of high-school students worldwide design, prototype, and assemble 150-pound robots to achieve specific tasks and score points. However, even after competition season ends, they continue designing, prototyping and building to increase their skills and teach new members. FRC is considered “the ultimate sport for the mind” as it “combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology.”
After Ashley’s presentation, the visitors were given a tour of the team’s workstations, each representing an aspect of engineering required to build such complex robots. Every exhibit showcased professional grade software and machinery. At Build It, Brandon Paul wired an electronics board for the robot and operated a laser cutter, a machine that cuts wood and plastics with a thin beam of light. Meanwhile, Vincent Ngo introduced three new members to the robotics club; it was their first day on the team. Owen Ryan ran CAD software (Computer Aided Design), which is used to design and simulate the robot digitally before it is manufactured and assembled by the team. Alexander Liu was in charge of demonstrating the robot’s code. At Los Al High School, Cameron Hancock explained the use of 3D printers (machines that lay down layers of heated plastic to create any 3D shape) and their frequent use in producing components for the robot. He also operated the plasma cutter: a machine that cuts through metal by super-heating air and creating plasma. Macaine Crawford, Brandon, and Owen were running Tormachs, computerized machines that can cut almost any material into the required 3D shape.
The open house concluded with a tour of the Meme Team’s space at the high school: a storage container set near the track and football field. The Los Al Robotics Team is grateful for the School Board’s time and hopes for their assistance in locating a workspace on campus and help in securing funding.
For more information, contact the Meme Team at losalfrc@gmail.com
