BFHS FIRST Robotics Team 2130 Alpha+ entering 16th season

January 17, 2022

Bonners Ferry High School FIRST Robotics Team 2130 Alpha+ entered its 16th season at the start of the school year. With the past two years being impacted by the pandemic and all in-person competition being moved to remote or virtual options, the team is extremely excited to be back in person and heading to competitions in Nampa this year. FIRST Robotics is a worldwide robotics competition that brings high school level teams together to compete in a different competition every year.

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This season, they will be attending the Idaho Regional in Nampa, from March 30 through April 2, where they will compete with teams from all over the country and neighboring countries.

On Saturday, January 8, anticipation was high as students, mentors, parents, alumni and guests gathered for the 2022 FIRST Robotics Competition Kickoff and animation video for this year’s game, RAPID REACT.

During the two minute, 30 second game, presented by The Boeing Company, two competing alliances process cargo for transportation. Each alliance is assigned a cargo color to process by retrieving their assigned cargo, a ball the size of a volleyball, and scoring it in the high or low goals, 8.5 feet and 4.5 feet high, respectively.

Human players assist the cargo retrieval and scoring efforts from within their terminals. In the final moments of each match, alliance robots race to engage with their hangar to prepare for transport by having the robots climb.

After the game was revealed, Alpha+ immediately got to work strategizing how to tackle this year's challenge.

Everyone left the kickoff enthusiastic about the game, only provided with a very basic kit of parts, leaving room for our team to strategize, design, prototype, build and program a unique robot. Team 2130 Alpha+ has a tight schedule, with just 10 weeks to completely design, build and program their robot before they leave for the Nampa Regional.

Student team members are working side-by-side with their talented and dedicated mentors as they create this year’s robot. The business team continues to write sponsor letters, complete grant proposals, write award essays and update our social media sites. For more information on the team’s progress, visit the Team 2130 Alpha+ Facebook page, “FIRST Team 2130.”

"We are immensely grateful for the support and enthusiasm our local community has shown toward our team," members say. "FIRST Team 2130 Alpha+ runs primarily on donations from generous businesses, organizations, and community members. We would greatly appreciate any potential support or sponsorship."

Checks may be made payable to Bonners Ferry High School Robotics and mailed to Bonners Ferry High School, 6485 Tamarack Lane, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805.

Those interested in joining FIRST Robotics Team 2130 Alpha+ as a student member or mentor, email 2130alphaplus@gmail.com for further information.