Visitation School's Robettes Prepare for Regional Robotics Showdown

Two robots and plenty of power tools have been the driving focus of the Convent of the Visitation School’s robotics team or the past six weeks.

As part of the FIRST Robotics program, Team 2177, who call themselves the “Robettes,” recently finished completion of not one but two robots required to compete in the nationwide program this spring. The Robettes were the first all-girls competitive robotics team in the state, according to the school.

“It’s completely addicting,” said physics and engineering teacher Melissa Murray, a team advisor. “You get sucked in and it takes over your life for a good six-and-a-half weeks … You can’t tear yourself away. It’s wonderful.”

The FIRST program, which stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology,” was founded by the inventor of Segways, Dean Kamen, in 1989.

Next up, the students will compete in two regional FIRST competitions for a chance to move on to the national level competition.

What the girls have found along the journey is a chance to develop skills in science, engineering and technology that they otherwise could only read about. During the six-week “build season,” the team works from 7-9 p.m., Monday through Thursday and on Saturdays to learn the skills to build their robot.

In addition, it’s considered a varsity sport, which is “a really big thing” said senior Robette Katy Newell, who gave tours of the Robette build space at an open house Feb. 12.

For this year’s challenge, Newell said the four sub-teams—mechanical, electrical, programming and public relations— have been busy designing a robot that will pick up and place inner tubes on a 10-foot-high pegged wall, and a second robot that will climb a post at the end of the feat. Competitions are described as intense but fun. The challenges and the materials available are standard for all teams competing.

The robot’s design and execution is what sets each team apart in competition.

A notable moment for the Robettes this season was the success of the programming sub-team in developing sensors designed to guide the robot autonomously for 15 seconds of the competition. The sensors will follow a strip of tape on the competition floor by detecting the light reflecting off of the tape, said Robette Kate Sercombe.

 “It’s been a lot of fun,” said John Stratis, one of the team’s mentors from Boston Scientific. “They’ve really stepped up. They’ve learned a lot this year.”

Stratis said working with an all-girls team has unique challenges. “When they come in they don’t even know how to use a drill. That would be different with boys,” said Stratis. “The good thing is you don’t have to break bad habits.”

He said the girls are more cautious about trying new things, which results in a “measure twice, cut once” mentality. “With a boys team you’re going to go through triple the materials.”

The Robettes placed second in regional competition the past three years in a row, and this year are hoping to move into first and continue on to nationals. Their first regional competition is March 9-12 in Duluth, and the second competition, closer to home at Mariucci Arena, is scheduled for April 1-2.