Boot Camp 2021

If you want to explore mechanics, engineering, programming, electronics, team management, or discover where your passion for robotics lies as a part of the largest association of Central High School, then the RoboLancers team is for you! As evidenced by the overwhelming success of this year’s RoboLancers induction, this 2021 season has kicked off as possibly the greatest robotics experience at Central High School! Doubtful? Why not ask the nearly 100 students of various backgrounds and grade levels who have found their spot in RoboLancers, fresh from Bootcamp!

The RoboLancers Boot Camp – now thankfully in person – gave all students interested in robotics a taste in the many subgroups of RoboLancers and their work within the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) and FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) seasons. But firstly, all students were taught proper safety procedures regarding using any equipment related to RoboLancers work and especially how to safely use the professional machinery in Central’s very own workplace. Afterward, new students were introduced to the three main aspects of RoboLancers: Mechanical, Programming, and Business.

Despite the costly and limited supplies to create legitimate FRC and FTC robots for Boot Camp, students still enjoyed the making of their own designs with rubber-band based cars. Students designed and created their own vehicles in the Mechanical class of makeshift parts powered by the satisfying fling of rubber bands. During Business, students learned the importance of managing the RoboLancers’ funds (as well as the collection of said money), social media, and reputation. And lastly, students learned the basics of Javascript coding via the Programming class.

New members doing a design challenge at recruitment!

Check out our boot camp resources: http://robolancers.com/boot-camp/

FTC States 2020

Last year, members of Gold and Crimson decided that instead of moving to FRC, they wanted to do another year of FTC. They united to create Central High School’s first FTC team for returning Robolancers members, Team 16941, Wrench Toast. Wrench Toast’s team goal is to both create a custom-designed competitive robot by using CAD and machining most of their parts.

This year’s Robolancers’ FTC coach is Sabrina. She’s a former Robolancer, and currently a college student studying social studies and secondary education and at Temple University. Wrench Toast members describe her as funny, smart, caring, and all around amazing. She’s dedicated to helping this year’s FTC members to work together and reach their full potential. 

Sabrina as a Game Announcer at the Philadelphia Qualifier

The season for the team started in September, and they immediately started designing and planning at Kickoff. Their robot has come a long way since that Saturday. Wrench Toast’s black-and-yellow robot is well-rounded and can complete many tasks. Impressively, it can stack up to 9 blocks. During autonomous, it can bring over one block and park. The highest score Wrench Toast got during the qualification matches was 101.

Black and Yellow

Wrench Toast’s first scheduled qualifier was on January 18th, the South Central Qualifier. Unfortunately, the bus never came, and the team, along with Crimson, Gold, and other Robolancers, were out in the freezing weather for around an hour. Despite this setback, Wrench Toast still went to the Blue and White Qualifier the next day.

Their next qualifier was on February 8, the Philadelphia Qualifier. Wrench Toast ended the qualifying matches ranked first, and chose to be in an alliance with Team 8730, the Robogriffins, and Team 12308, the Bodine Ambassadors, and they became the winning alliance. Wrench Toast also won the Collins Aerospace Innovate Award, and came second place for the Design Award.

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The three teams on the Philadelphia Qualifier 2020 Winning Alliance
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Members of Wrench Toast with the secret to their success, Stuffed Remy.

A few weeks later, on February 29th, Wrench Toast boarded a bus (that came on time) to York, PA for States. They ranked 7th after the qualification matches, and were second pick in an alliance with Team 6045, TwoBar, and Team 2818, G-force. They ended the event as division semi-finalists. Excitingly, team captain, Maria was chosen as one of Pennsylvania’s Dean’s List Finalists, the first one from our school as far as we can remember. 

Congratulations to Wrench Toast for an amazing season and robot, Maria for her advancement, and Sabrina for being a great and supportive coach. (May the FIRST be with you all)

Philadelphia Qualifier 2020

Last Saturday, February 8th, our three FTC teams hosted and competed at the Philadelphia Qualifier. Along with our FTC members, our FRC and Business members were also seen in the gym volunteering.

Both Gold and Crimson qualified for the semifinals, and were in an alliance together. By a small margin, they didn’t advance to the finals to face off against Wrench Toast’s alliance. Wrench Toast were their alliance’s captain, and they won the final matches, allowing them to become one of the teams advancing to States. 

Aside from the matches, our teams also had success in the Awards Department. Gold won the Design Award for their robot’s functional, efficient, and aesthetic design. Wrench Toast was nominated for the Control Award, and the Design Award, coming second place for both categories. They won the Collins Aerospace Innovate Award for their innovative and well documented robot design. Wrench Toast’s two Dean’s List nominees are now Semi-Finalists. Congratulations to Maria Calderon and Finn Brenner!

Build Season Weekly Update (#5)

Week 5 was used primarily to start manufacturing the parts that have been designed in the previous weeks. The team put the different parts together piece by piece, making sure each part came out the way they were intended. Other than the parts, the team also constructed the robot’s chassis this week. Once some parts were completed, the team installed them into the chassis in order to get a head start into constructing the robot.

Build Season Weekly Update (#3-4)

In the midst of week 3, the team continued to experiment on possible designs using CAD. During the week, they created various prototypes that could be used in the final design of the robot. Throughout week 4, members have been finalizing the designs to be used for the robot. Using CAD, the team has been perfecting all the different parts to be manufactured and assembled.

Build Season Weekly Update (#2)

This week, the team has made substantial progress towards the robot’s design. At the beginning of the week, our members discussed possible designs and prototypes. Now at the end of the week, many members are using CAD to test the discussed prototypes, and some are continuing to discuss the robot’s overall design.

2018-19 Season

Glancing back at our season last year, we performed very well. Our robot was the best it ever had been, and carried the Robolancers through the competition. At Springside, our team put forth a good effort during the matches, but sadly did not make it as a finalist. Though, due to the extraordinary performance of our robot, we made to the finals of Bensalem. Unfortunately, the team did not get to advance to MAR, but still enjoyed the journey. Once the team was out, we were happily cheering on other teams while they competed.

RoboRUMBLE 2019

Last year’s RoboRUMBLE was an enjoyable experience for our teams. As they competed against 15 other teams, our teams gained valuable practice and one even walked out with a trophy. Alongside Robolancers Crimson and Robolancers Gold was a team that was ran by our programming mentors, and the team had shown excellent performance by the end of the event.

Build Season Weekly Update (#1)

It’s finally that time of year again, our build season has officially begun! Last Saturday, we went down to UPenn to witness the reveal for this year’s FIRST Robotics Competition. This year’s game, Infinite Recharge, is Star Wars inspired and teams will be responsible for recharging FIRST’s City’s shield generators.

Since the reveal, we’ve dusted off our thinking caps and have started our build season at full speed.

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Flapjack Fundraisers 2019

On Saturday, November 16, our team had a Flapjack Fundraiser! From 8 to 10AM, Robolancer volunteers took over Applebee’s on Aramingo Ave and served unlimited pancakes, sausages, and drinks to our guests. Everyone had a great time!

In addition to serving food, we also had a raffle. At 9:45, we drew a ticket and announced our winner. Congratulations to our FTC Coach, Sabrina, for winning the raffle!

Sadly, our Flapjack Fundraiser was the last day for our Business Coach, Ms. Coutts. We would like to thank her for all of her mentorship and assistance to the Robolancers. This event, and many others, could not have run so well without her. We will miss you!
-Angelina Tjia