Los Altos High School Team 114 Eagle Strike ... - lahs robotics

How It All Starts:
Each year, at the beginning of January, the “game” for the season is announced. Over the next six
weeks, we design, argue, manufacture, wire, programming, test, and build a robot to compete at
regional competitions. Students on the team gain a broad base of knowledge on how to design and
work with mechanical, electrical, and software systems and ultimately learn how to integrate all of these
together to create an effective robot. Our team allows students with no prior knowledge to be trained on
tools such as our manual mill, lathe, band saw, and drill press. In addition, they learn how to use
Computer Aided Design (CAD) software and learn C++ to program the robot. We learn skills that are
not otherwise taught our classrooms. These skills allow students with passion and interest to explore
new career opportunities.
The Importance of Robotics:
By participating in robotics at Los Altos High School, we obtain a
greater understanding of technology from our high school
experience. Through FIRST, younger students begin their learning
process as freshmen performing smaller tasks and helping out the
older students. Freshmen mature through their immersion in the
robotics program and learn how to be a leader. By the time they are
seniors, they pass on the knowledge they have acquired in Science
and Engineering to the current underclassmen. Most of the students
participating in this program go on to study engineering, computer
science, or other STEM fields in universities. Some have even begun
their careers early using their experiences from Robotics in an
internship or job. As we progress further into the 21st century, we
will have to rely more heavily on engineers to fix the problems of the
future. This is what our team and FIRST encourages: the
development of competent engineers from a young age who are
capable and eager to find solutions to these problems.
“Through my robotics experience, I have been exposed
to design which motivated me to pursue Mechanical
Engineering at UC Berkeley.” - Senior and 2012 Team
Captain Emil Annevelink
“As a Freshman on the team, I was amazed at how
quickly I was able to pick up the tricks involved in
machining, designing, and much more” - Freshman
Brynna McComb
Community Involvement:
Students on the team know the importance that science and technology has in our future and therefore
are eager to help out in the community. Los Altos Robotics helps out in different areas including helping
with a younger robotics program, First Lego League (FLL). Each year our team volunteers together to
help run a local FLL competition. At the end of the competition we demonstrate our current robot and
inspire these younger students into continuing into FRC. We also annually invite a local preschool to
see and drive the robot, opening the eyes of preschoolers to what they can accomplish.