The Badger Robotics team, 2130 Alpha +, comprised of 15 Badger team members, is heading to the regional competition on March 26th, 2025. They will play in a bracket until one alliance of three is victorious. An alliance is a fixed and established outreach between teams. If they win the alliance they will qualify to attend the world competition in Houston, Texas.
Submitted by 2130 Alpha +
2130 Alpha + robotics is part of a worldwide organization called FIRST. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a worldwide robotics competition that brings high school level teams together to compete in a different competition every year. This year our team will be heading out early on Wednesday, March 26th, 2025, to head to Nampa for the Idaho regional competition.
According to www.techtarget.com, ”
Robotics is a branch of engineering and computer science that involves the conception, design, manufacture and operation of robots. The objective of the robotics field is to create intelligent machines that can assist humans in a variety of ways.
Robotics can take on a number of forms. A robot might resemble a human or be in the form of a robotic application, such as robotic process automation, which simulates how humans engage with software to perform repetitive, rules-based tasks.”
At this competition 2130 Alpha + team will compete with 53 teams from California, Hawaii, Idaho, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, British Columbia, Alberta and China.
This year’s game is called ‘Reefscape’ and is presented by HAAS (company that manufactures tools). HAAS is the main sponsor of this year’s season. This game uses engineering skills to strengthen one of the oceans most diverse habitats. Each team starts with a kit
of parts and then brainstorms to design, build, program and do all electrical work of an industrial sized robot to play in an action-packed game.
The competitors will compete on a field with six robots total, in a three-team alliance in the spirit of Cooperation. Cooperation is FIRST encouraging teams to cooperate to work together while also being in a competition.
Robots must be built in order to accomplish the tasks of the game. This game consists of placing two different game pieces, PVC pipe known as the “coral” and large rubber balls known as “algae” in various places on the playing field. The robot is all completed by the students with adult mentor support and guidance. The robot must follow certain guidelines when it comes to perimeter, maximum height at start, weight and must also follow other safely guidelines.
Thursday March 27th, 2025, will consist of the team getting their robot to pass inspection, and practice time on the field. They will begin competing with other teams on Friday, March 28th, 2025, and this will continue into Saturday March 29th. You can follow along with the team on https://www.thebluealliance.com/ orhttps://www.twitch.tv/firstinspires4 Once you are online, look for Week five event, Idaho Regionals.
Another part of the competition is that team members can be nominated for the Dean’s list award. The FIRST Dean’s List was made in an effort to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding secondary students. This year our team has two FIRST Deans’s list semi-finalists. These students must be a sophomore and junior in high school. They will take place in an interview in front of a panel of judges while they are in Nampa.
During this interview they will speak with judges about how they have demonstrated leadership and commitment to the FIRST core values, how the contribute to the team, what experience they have in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and how they are a role model and can motivate and lead their fellow team members.
This year our nominees are Matthew McCabe, Junior and Joseph Meyer, Sophomore. Matthew is in his fourth year on the team. The mentors of the team say this about Matthew, “To Matthew, FIRST is more than competition and winning, it is a way of life. He embodies the philosophies of Gracious Professionalism and Coopetition daily. A quiet thinker who is always working on something new. Inventing at home, assisting his teachers with technology at school or playing an important role on team 2130. Matthew, a junior, is involved in almost every sub team and encourages and guides other members.
He is one that the mentors can always count on to be present and engaged. He is kind and inclusive to everyone and a friend to all and is someone that many of the other team members go to for ideas and help. He is found almost daily at the computer working on a project with other team members alongside seeking guidance. His quirky side is likely to bring a smile to all.”
Joseph Meyer is in his third year on the team. This is what mentors say about Joseph: “Joey is an integral part of the team. This year he took on the lead role for our summer camp. He organized the 30 youth, youth mentors and minions that help run the program. He communicated with parents, planned games, and STEM activities for a weeklong Lego robotics camp that ended the week with a team competition put on for the parents.
Joey also is a main part of our electrical team and jumps in to help wherever he is asked to help. Joey has begun playing more of a role in the build team offering ideas and extra hands. He is often seen cleaning and organizing around the shop, helping the entire team. Joey helps at the various community service activities such as the annual rotary Easter egg hunt. He is a consistent positive member.”
2130 Alpha+ appreciates the support of our community, school district, teachers, mentors, parents and sponsors. We would not be able to do this without the support of so many people. We look forward to representing our community at the Idaho Regional.