JMS Robotics teams wrap up season at Legoland
JMS Robotics teams wrap up season at Legoland
By: by Carrine Greason, Contributing writer
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Posted by editor Fri Dec 28, 2007 17:06:14 PST
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0 responses 0 comments Jacobsen Middle School's four FIRST Lego League (FLL) teams wrapped up their season competing at Legoland, in Carlsbad, Calif. JMS's Blackouts, Energy Experts, Tehachapi Turbines and Warp Core were among 58 Southern California teams presenting their renewable energy research projects and running their LEGO-based robots against the clock to complete pre-set tasks collecting and placing strategic items on a tabletop field.
Although none of the teams took Legoland trophies, they achieved personal best scores and other positive outcomes working toward that goal. For example, Tehachapi Turbines applied their earlier tournament experience to improve their score in the timed robot trials, as did the Blackouts.
Blackouts coach Greg Randall explained that prior to the Legoland competition, the team modified their 6-by-6-inch robot for better traction and reliability and re-wrote all their robot software programs to run the autonomous missions faster and more consistently. As a result, their average total score improved from 151 at the November Lancaster tournament to 207 at Legoland.
Most rewarding, said their coach Greg Randall, was “their transformation into an effective and cohesive team,” which provided a unique opportunity for success that many team members hadn't experienced before.
This year's JMS robotics program was made possible by the teams' JMS teacher advisor Janice Tietz, volunteer coaches, Tehachapi High School student mentors, and local sponsors and supporters including the Jacobsen Middle School parent teacher organization, American Carriage, Chemtool, Kieffe & Sons Ford, Lehigh Southwest Cement, Sail Thru Carwash, Save Mart and XCOR Aerospace.
In addition, Christine McLeod, Southern California Edison Project Manager of Regulatory Affairs, and Cathy Hart, Southern California Edison Region Manager, briefed the students on the energy industry. And the Tehachapi City Council and wastewater treatment plant, Tehachapi City Hall, Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Parks District and The Hitching Post Theater managers shared their time and facilities to contribute to the students' understanding of practical power-saving issues.
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