Mission Statement
The mission of Watkins Bionic Warriors follows the mission of FIRST: to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders and innovators, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.
Description
The Bionic Warriors are in our third year of existence and building the program in terms of awareness, community involvement and membership. We are trying to reach a diverse group of students and pride ourselves in "no previous experience needed" to participate. Robotics includes an environment for a team of students to learn technical skills, build a robot to complete the objectives created by FIRST, and compete with other high school teams at a regional FRC competition. Teams along with coaches and mentors work during a six-week build season starting in January to solve the engineering design problem and build and program a game-playing robot that weighs up to 125 pounds. They work with other teams to form alliances to play the game at events where they are judged on design, innovation, culture-changing behavior, and performance. The program is a life-changing, career-molding experience and it's a lot of fun.
The Robotics team meets during the entire school year. Team members work collaboratively to gain hands-on technical skills such as engineering design (CAD); mechanical, electrical, gearing, manipulators, drive and pneumatic systems; and programming. Along the way, they gain experience in problem solving, critical thinking, leadership, and business management skills. The robot will have to complete tasks such as throwing balls into goals, flying discs into goals, place inner tubes onto racks, hanging on bars, and balancing robots on balance beams. The game for the competition, along with the required set of tasks, changes annually.
