ROSCOMMON – High Schools around the country, including those at Houghton Lake, Roscommon, and Charlton Heston Academy (CHA), attended the annual video ‘Reveal’ for the upcoming year’ Robotics competitions.
Teams will be competing in a Steampunk theme, FIRST Steamworks, having their robots collect large wiffle balls and throwing or placing them in ‘boilers’. They will also attach plastic gears onto a ‘ship’ which is fueled by the ‘boilers’. Finally, the robots need to climb a rope. Points are awarded based on how many tasks are completed.
This is Houghton Lake’ and CHA’ first year with a robotics team. Roscommon’ team, the Rosco Bots #6074, is in its second year. Roscommon’ coach, Teacher Ric Rothney, and team members think their second year will go better than their first.
‘This is going to be a good year I think,’ returning team member Michael Ficaj said. ‘We have the experience and a lot more parts (to use).’
Coach Rothney agrees.
‘Last year I was happy we got the vehicle running. That was a big hurdle,’ he said. ‘This year I would like to maximize the use of material we have and get the most people involved here that we can.’
Teams are given a basic robot to start, which includes a frame, wheels and some parts. Additional parts can be added once a completed design is made. Students assemble their robot, then test the design and make any necessary changes. The students not only do the computer coding, they also wire and construct their final robot. 
They are given construction guidelines along with rules for both their machine (size and weight limits) and the competition.
Competitions last two to three days. 40 or more teams meet at the location to have their robot inspected before competition begins. Each team has a ‘pit stop’ where repairs can be made. The gym floor is transformed into a large playing field where six teams compete in two alliances (red and blue). While the teams work together with their alliance, they also score individually.
Teams may compete in five or more rounds each competition, each against different teams and alliances. Each round lasts three minutes, with the first 15 seconds the robots perform a task remotely. After that, student drivers take over, moving their robots around the field to complete their tasks.
In between rounds, students are brought down to the gym floor for ‘dance-offs’, performing line dances and conga lines. This, along with the costumes the students wear, make the competitions a fun, exciting time.
While the students do the actual work on the robot, the Roscommon team is looking for mentors and other assistance. They are asking for help from anyone with coding, electrical or manufacturing experience.
And while they have already received some grants to help offset their costs, they are still looking for donations, both ‘in-kind’ donations of aluminum, wiring, computer components, food and lodging; as well as cash donations.
Anyone interested in helping can contact Ric Rothney at rothneyr@rapsk12.net or call the Roscommon High School at 989-275-6675.
