Ratchet Rockers Heading to World Competition

It is the self-proclaimed sport of nerds.

"We don't play sports, so we build robots to play for us," Heather Semore, a member of the Wentzville Ratchet Rockets said with a smile.

The Rockets, comprised of 30 students from and High Schools, will compete this weekend in the US FIRST Robotics World Championship — the Superbowl of robotics competitions.

FIRST's motto is "a sport of the mind" and sponsor Vince Redman said spectators won't be disappointed.

"It really is like watching a sporting event," he said. "You latch onto a robot and cheer for it and its team. It is as addictive as a sport once you've seen it played."

The championship will be held at the Edward Jones Dome at America's Center. Events begin Thursday and run through Saturday. The Rockers took second place at the FIRST Robotics Regional Competition held in St. Louis March 17-19 at the Chaifetz Arena in order to qualify for the world championship.

The team was also awarded the "Creativity" award for innovative thinking and overcoming obstacles during the regional competition. 

According to team co-captain Milly White, this year's robot stands 5 feet tall, has a large robotic arm and is programmed to maneuver in all directions while moving inner tubes. It also includes a mini-bot, which shimmies up a pole at lightning speed.

Redman, the team sponsor and Holt engineering teacher, said this was the first year the team used CAD (computer assisted design) software to design the robot from start to finish.

"We've used it before, but this was the first time we had the whole robot designed before we started to build," he said. "It was great because the first time we built the arm it works—there is no error."

Participants receive the game specs (so they know what the robot must do) and part prior to regional competitions. The teams then have six weeks to design and build the robot. Once the time is up, the robot is shipped to the competition site. Teams can tinker with their robots at competition, but construction must cease.

"It took about a week and half of design before we started to build," White said. 

During the design and construction phase, the Rockers worked every day after school, from the time the bell rang until 8 or 9 p.m. They put in long hours, sometimes at the expense of outside activities.

"I quit my job for this," Taylor Gulley said. 

The team also participated in fundraising events throughout the year.

Only a few members of the team are allowed in the pit operating the robot during the games. Others are scouting competitors, answering questions and making sure things run smoothly.

"I'm really impressed with our kids this year," Redman said. "They participated and really made decisions as a team."

The Ratchet Rockers also are supported by several parents and mentors, many from the Boeing Company.

FIRST World Championships

Thousands of students will converge in St. Louis Wednesday through Saturday to vie in the world's largest science and technology competition, which will award nearly $15 million in scholarships. It will be the first time the event's organizers—FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) nonprofit organization—will host the international competition in St. Louis.

St. Louis has held regionals for several years.

The FIRST Championship combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited resources and time limits, teams build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors. 

Nearly 11,000 young American and international students, who have worked alongside 90,000-plus coaches, mentors and volunteers, have earned the right to compete at this championship. 

This week's event showcases student teams from the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC-big robots) and FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC- small robots), both for high-school-age students; FIRST LEGO League (FLL) for elementary and middle-school students; and Junior FIRST LEGO League for 6- to 9-year-olds.  

"We've seen a 25 percent growth in the number of teams across all of our programs this year," said FIRST spokesperson Dennis Garrigan.

"The increased number of competition sponsors also designates that companies and institutions are solidly behind the concept of fostering innovation in youth."

This year's competition is sponsored by a range of companies and organizations:  AT&T, Siemens, the U.S. Air Force, Abbott, Autodesk, BAE Systems, SAIC and United Technologies, The Boeing Company, Coca-Cola, Glacéau VitaminWater, the National Defense Education Program (NDEP), FedEx Corporation, NASA, UL,  Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening, Google, Maryville University, Missouri University of Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Central Intelligence Agency, Honda, and Rolls Royce.

FIRST founder Dean Kamen is an inventor and entrepreneur. The organization was launched in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. According to the group's background materials, the non-profit team now based in Manchester, NH, designs accessible programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge and life skills.

If You Go

The US FIRST Robotics Championship is free and open to the public. Because students will be working on their robots when they are not competing, tools will be in use. Those going must wear closed-toed shoes — no sandals or Crocs.

FIRST has published an initial schedule. For those who cannot physically attend the event, NASA is webcasting it.

Editor's note: Patch editor Julie Patton contributed information to this report.