Team comprised of students from 3 area schools unveil competition robot

The robot, constructed by students from Corbin, Lynn Camp and Knox Central High Schools, was debuted Tuesday at Corbin High School. it will compete in the First Robotics regional competition in Knoxville, Tenn.

After six weeks of work the Kentucky Wildbots unveiled their robot for the First Robotics regional competition in Knoxville, Tenn.

The 20 high school students from Lynn Camp, Corbin and Knox Central have spent the last six weeks designing and building the robot that can pick up and fling a beach ball.

The team, under the direction of Lynn Camp teacher Arthur Canada brought the robot to Corbin High School Tuesday to demonstrate it for the students.

Canada said the robot would also be stopping at several local businesses, including Jackson MSC, who has supported the program.

Canada said the team is still searching for sponsors to help cover the team’s travel expenses to Knoxville and hopefully to the world competition in St. Louis, Mo.

“This year, we have to raise the funds,” Canada said, noting it will take approximately $20,000 to fund the team all the way to the national championship in St. Louis, Mo.

Canada started the program four years ago with students at Lynn Camp.

In 2012, the robot had to shoot Nerf basketballs. In 2013, the robot was designed to fling Frisbees.

Canada explained that the new robot will not just pick up and throw the ball. It will be part of a three-robot team with the goal of getting the ball from one end of a basketball court-sized arena to the other and into a goal.

The team gets 10 points for each successful pass to a robot and 40 points for scoring a goal.

Unlike in past years, Canada said his team has worked to maximize the robot’s abilities. The robot has the ability to throw the ball high enough to get it over a truss that can score the team bonus points. And unlike the basketball shooter, this year’s robot can play defense.

Canada said the robot has a simple program that will allow it to run autonomously. If the robot can score a goal while running autonomously, it scores additional points for the team.

The Wildbots’ success will depend on the other teams it is aligned with. Competition organizers will determine the alliances after watching the robots in action during practice.

“There are going to be 50 teams in Knoxville and the top alliance advances to the world finals,” Canada explained, noting that 400 teams will compete in the world finals.

The first financial hurdle is the trip to Knoxville, which Canada estimated will cost $2,356 between rooms and travel expenses.
The robot and the students will be making appearances throughout the community, including the 50th and 51st District Basketball tournaments and the 13th Region Basketball Tournament.

Canada said sponsors names will be displayed on the robot,  team apparel and any literature associated with the robot.
Lynn Camp student Dillon Robinson has been with the team since the beginning.

Robinson said working on the robot has taught him so much about robotics and mechanics, but also helped make him a better student in his other classes.

Looking back over the previous robots compared to this year’s model, Robinson said the team has refined and improved the use of pneumatics (air operated) parts.

“The first year, pneumatics was out of our reach,” Robinson said.

Robinson said the partnership with Jackson MSC, which laser cut the body parts using the team’s plans, has really benefitted the team.

“We are probably the only stainless steel robot in the country,” Robinson said.

Robinson said despite the long-standing rivalry between the schools, all of that goes out the window when the team comes together.

“The first day that we got together with the guys from Corbin, we were going to Knoxville for the FRC kickoff,” Robinson explained. “There wasn’t a word said between the two on the way down, but by the time we were coming home we were all best friends.”

Canada said his long-term goal is to continue to grow the team by adding students from the three schools and has invited the Whitley County School System to get its students involved.

“We are better together than we would be separately,” Canada said when asked if he would like to see the other schools start their own teams.

Anyone interested in helping to sponsor the team may contact Canada by phone at 528-5429, 524-6029, or by email at Arthur.canada@knox.kyschools.us

“Our mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by getting them excited about science, engineering and technology skills,” Canada stated previously. “We promote innovation and foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication and leadership.”