ANNUAL LEEWARD VEX IQ COMPETITION
Every year, the Pearl City High School Robotics team and the Highlands Intermediate Robotics team co-host the Leeward VEX IQ Tournament at Pearl City High School.
The first day was used to set up the pit areas, the practice, skills and competition fields, charging station, and technical systems such as the speakers and Tournament Manager.
The next day consisted of registration, where the VEX IQ teams checked in, collected their information packets, and submitted their engineering journals for judging. Our students also had the duties of being referees, queuing teams for their matches, managing practice and skills fields, and inspecting robots. Our advisors were able to find volunteers outside our programs to be judges and an emcee.
We all enjoy hosting tournaments because it not only gives us the opportunity to give back to our community, but also allows us to speak with the VEX IQ students and encourage them to continue their journey through robotics.
The first day was used to set up the pit areas, the practice, skills and competition fields, charging station, and technical systems such as the speakers and Tournament Manager.
The next day consisted of registration, where the VEX IQ teams checked in, collected their information packets, and submitted their engineering journals for judging. Our students also had the duties of being referees, queuing teams for their matches, managing practice and skills fields, and inspecting robots. Our advisors were able to find volunteers outside our programs to be judges and an emcee.
We all enjoy hosting tournaments because it not only gives us the opportunity to give back to our community, but also allows us to speak with the VEX IQ students and encourage them to continue their journey through robotics.
ANNUAL WINDWARD VEX IQ COMPETITION
Pearl City High School Robotics along with Highlands Intermediate School Robotics volunteer at the Windward VEX IQ scrimmage every year. Elementary school and middle school teams competed against each other in a friendly competition. The intermediate and high school students volunteered as referees, field resetters, tournament managers, scorekeeper, registration/inspection, and practice/skill managers.
The teams had to bring a clawbot to inspection and after the elementary students got to let their creativity show and change or add anything to their robots within an hour without the help of an adult. Afterwards, we revealed the game to them. The Highlands students came up with the new game to make it easier for the students. Elements from old VEX IQ games were used, such as Highrise (cubes), Ringmaster (rings), Add It Up (buckyballs), and the current game of the season.
Everyone was excited to host such a tournament where the kids could show that a clawbot is still capable of competing in tournaments. As the kids saw their robot continue to work better and better throughout the matches, they began to show excitement cheering for all the teams.
The teams had to bring a clawbot to inspection and after the elementary students got to let their creativity show and change or add anything to their robots within an hour without the help of an adult. Afterwards, we revealed the game to them. The Highlands students came up with the new game to make it easier for the students. Elements from old VEX IQ games were used, such as Highrise (cubes), Ringmaster (rings), Add It Up (buckyballs), and the current game of the season.
Everyone was excited to host such a tournament where the kids could show that a clawbot is still capable of competing in tournaments. As the kids saw their robot continue to work better and better throughout the matches, they began to show excitement cheering for all the teams.
ROBOFEST
APRIL 7, 2018
On April 7, 2018, we hosted the annual 2018 Robofest for the third year in a row. During this event, elementary and middle school teams from across the island gathered at Pearl City High School to participate in one or more of the events that were provided to them from the beginning of the season. These events include the Exhibition, Parade, Game, and BottleSumo.
During the event, we ran concession, but at lunch time, we put on a demonstration of our FRC robot and our VEX Robot that would be used at the 2018 VEX Worlds Championship. Many of the elementary and middle school students were extremely interested evident from the load of questions they asked. They asked questions about programming, building, and even driving. Everyone was able to see how excited the students were to see such a big robot, made by high schoolers, move at such a fast speed.
While presenting, Justine (who was our speaker) spoke a lot about our program as a whole. We explained how we want to spread the word about STEM and also have the many students pursue robotics until they grow up to become high school students, where they can then join Charger Robotics.
Keiko, Evan, and Michaela walked around the exhibition area to see all of the projects the students were presenting. It was amazing to see the young students discover problems in our society and find a way to fix it by building a robot. When they had asked the students if they would like to join a robotics team in high school, most of them said yes especially after seeing the FRC robot which was as tall as them, or sometimes taller.
The event was extremely fun and successful even though we were not competing in it. We were able to see young engineers pursue their curiosity which motivates us to stay in the STEM pathway as well.
During the event, we ran concession, but at lunch time, we put on a demonstration of our FRC robot and our VEX Robot that would be used at the 2018 VEX Worlds Championship. Many of the elementary and middle school students were extremely interested evident from the load of questions they asked. They asked questions about programming, building, and even driving. Everyone was able to see how excited the students were to see such a big robot, made by high schoolers, move at such a fast speed.
While presenting, Justine (who was our speaker) spoke a lot about our program as a whole. We explained how we want to spread the word about STEM and also have the many students pursue robotics until they grow up to become high school students, where they can then join Charger Robotics.
Keiko, Evan, and Michaela walked around the exhibition area to see all of the projects the students were presenting. It was amazing to see the young students discover problems in our society and find a way to fix it by building a robot. When they had asked the students if they would like to join a robotics team in high school, most of them said yes especially after seeing the FRC robot which was as tall as them, or sometimes taller.
The event was extremely fun and successful even though we were not competing in it. We were able to see young engineers pursue their curiosity which motivates us to stay in the STEM pathway as well.
FIRST LEGO LEAGUE
NOVEMBER 10, 2017
On November 10, 2017 Pearl City High School, Hawaii FLL District Tournament Coordinators, and volunteers held this tournament for the students.
The day before the event we set up the pit area, practice and competition fields, battery stations, registration, and the technical parts of the competition such as the sound system, projector, and cameras. While the students were in interviews for the first half of competition, we made sure everything was ready to go for when the matches started. When the competition started our students helped out by being querers, field resetters, tournament manager, referees, and photographers/videographers along with some of our alumni. At the end of the tournament, we knew it was a success because even though only some teams won awards and such everyone was cheering for the other teams and themselves. |
STEM NIGHT
OCTOBER 20, 2017
On October 20, 2017 Pearl City High School Charger Robotics and Pearl City Highlands Elementary School co-hosted a STEM Night for the students and their families.
In the beginning of the event, there were stations where the kids could decorate and make paper airplanes to use later in a game we planned. Before, we started our game we had the kids line up behind our high school students in 3 columns. The kids threw their planes through the hoop held by our students, then after each round they moved further back rising the challenge.
Our field was brought down so we could demonstrate our robots. It was a hands on experience for the kids, because we allowed them to drive our robots. The kids were fascinated by the moving mechanisms, because the line was filled with eager students to drive the robot and get a closer glimpse.
On the side we had a table set up with brochures of our program, pins, and stickers to hand out to the students and their families. We also brought awards showing our accomplishments and a banner showing the opportunities given to us through robotics. The FRC robot was brought down to show we participate in other robotics competition. We had a couple of our students go around and engage with the families to promote our program and STEM.
It was a successful night, because many students showed a strong interest in STEM and robotics. We hope these kids continue to explore and pursue science, technology, engineering, and math fields as they get older.
In the beginning of the event, there were stations where the kids could decorate and make paper airplanes to use later in a game we planned. Before, we started our game we had the kids line up behind our high school students in 3 columns. The kids threw their planes through the hoop held by our students, then after each round they moved further back rising the challenge.
Our field was brought down so we could demonstrate our robots. It was a hands on experience for the kids, because we allowed them to drive our robots. The kids were fascinated by the moving mechanisms, because the line was filled with eager students to drive the robot and get a closer glimpse.
On the side we had a table set up with brochures of our program, pins, and stickers to hand out to the students and their families. We also brought awards showing our accomplishments and a banner showing the opportunities given to us through robotics. The FRC robot was brought down to show we participate in other robotics competition. We had a couple of our students go around and engage with the families to promote our program and STEM.
It was a successful night, because many students showed a strong interest in STEM and robotics. We hope these kids continue to explore and pursue science, technology, engineering, and math fields as they get older.