MANSFIELD, Ohio — Stellar Robotics, or Team 5413, has been gaining popularity in the robot world over the last couple months. Their performance last month in Cleveland earned them a spot to compete with 600 teams from around the world.
On April 22-25 the team from Mansfield will travel to St. Louis for the World’s Championship. Their goal is to win the Einstein division title, the most prestigious of titles in the competitive robotics world. They have already won numerous awards including Highest Rookie Seed Award. But they want the Einstein title, said Team Facilitator Chantal DeYoe.
So what does Guido, their robot, have to do to win the title? Team Facilitator Randy Allen explained.
He said each team gets 15 seconds of preliminary setup once in the arena. Each team does this differently. There is strategy involved in how the time is used. Then, each team gets two minutes and fifteen seconds to stack up to six plastic totes atop of each other, however six is not mandatory. Since the theme of the competition this year is recycling, teams earn more points if their robot can stack an additional recycling bin on top of the stacked totes. The bin also has an opening for a pool noodle, “litter,” and teams earn extra points for placing the litter inside the recycling bin. The teams must make sure their stacks are mounted on the scoring platform, too.
If they do all of this within the time given, and faster than other teams from countries like Israel and Canada, they win an Einstein title.
The World’s Championship in St. Louis will have eight arenas competing simultaneously. Each arena plays four teams, with two alliances.
Stellar Robotics does not know who they will ally with for the world championship, however their last alliance in Cleveland helped earn more points for qualification.
According to DeYoe, four teams will win the Einstein title. “That’s our ultimate goal,” she said. The Einstein title, if won, will grant teams a visit to the White House in Washington D.C. and an automatic spot in next year’s championship competition.
DeYoe and her son, Orion DeYoe, decided to create a team last winter after the family’s favorable experience with the competition. Orion competed while he was in high school. The experience inspired Orion to continue in his engineering education. He now works professionally at Bellevue Manufacturing Company — with robots.
“[The World’s Championship] is basically the coolest thing ever,” said Orion. He said he is excited to see what happens at the championship later this month.
Stellar Robotics is a team comprised of 13 high school students from the area. Since January 3, 2015 the team, along with 10 mentors (including Miller Metal, Stoneridge, Rable Manufacturing, ArcelorMittal and more), has invested over 120 hours in the building of the robot.
“The competition is my favorite part of this,” said freshman Gabby Allen. “Everybody gets into it and it’s just fun.”
According to Stellar Robotic’s press release, the team is a first-year team hosted by North Central State College at the Kehoe Center in Shelby.
DeYoe said the team is always looking for more mentors.
Vice President of Operations for Miller Metal in Lexington Jeff Miller said this is awesome.
“This is getting kids excited about manufacturing. I want to be able to retain as much talent in the area as possible, and this is helping. Seeing these kids come here because they want to, and seeing their passion, is huge for me. This is awesome,” said Miller.
Stellar Robotics’ qualification for the championship in St. Louis has generated the need for funding, said the press release. The team is partnered with North Central State College and the Kehoe Center in Shelby, and For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST). FIRST is a nonprofit organization.
“It’s an expensive thing. Just the robot alone costs $4,000. With everything included in the trip to St. Louis, we’re looking at close to $18,000,” said DeYoe.
To make a tax deductible donation, visit the team’s website.
“This is getting kids excited about manufacturing. I want to be able to retain as much talent in the area as possible, and this is helping. Seeing these kids come here because they want to, and seeing their passion, is huge for me. This is awesome.”
Jeff Miller, vice president of operations for Miller Metal
